Residents are celebrating a major success in their battle to stop lorries rat-running through their village.

A temporary weight restriction on both north and southbound traffic on the entire B430 is set to be implemented in September -- on the day work is expected to start on resurfacing a section of the busy A34.

It is hoped the temporary ban will stay in place for roadworks due to start at the A34/M40 junction near Weston-on-the-Green next spring.

Local business vehicles will be able to use the B430 for access.

Villagers were told the good news by Oxfordshire County Council area engineer Ralph Grant at a special parish meeting.

If the ban is made permanent, southbound lorries would not be able to use the bridge over the A34 at the edge of the village, a prospect that concerns local businesses.

During the temporary ban the road will be policed.

John Mair, of the B430 Action Group, said: "We are delighted the county council has seen the light. The two-way ban always made sense.

"Temporary should become permanent, but now the county should also move on to calm the traffic remaining through the village and on the B430 as well. Forearmed is forewarned.

"We call on the county to urgently amend the permanent southbound order to allow local companies commercial access.

"It was never our intention to hamper local enterprise. It still is not. They need and deserve access.

"But, at least the county council seems to be listening at long last."

Weston resident Rosalie Spottiswoode agreed with Mr Mair's comments. She said: "There is nothing to be gained in alienating the goodwill of the local businesses.

"No-one at any time thought they should have their commercial operations made more difficult.

"They represent a minute percentage of the constant flow of HGVs that pass up and down the B430 at all times of the day and night."

Mr Grant said the county council was looking into ways to allow local HGVs to use the bridge if a permanent ban was imposed.

He said: "What we are really trying to do is tell long haul lorries to stay on the motorway and A34. Obviously businesses need access."

Villagers are still campaigning for traffic calming in the village.

They believe traffic calming measures would discourage drivers using Weston-on-the-Green as a shortcut to junction 10 of the M40 and the A43 at Ardley.