HIGHWAY chiefs are being urged to widen one of Hampshire's busiest roads in a bid to cut ever-increasing congestion.

Campaigners say more sections of the A326 Ower to Fawley road should be transformed into a dual carriageway to prevent huge tailbacks building up at peak periods.

The road, used by more than 20,000 vehicles a day, is mainly single carriageway as far north as the Morrisons store in Totton.

Traffic is often at a standstill during the morning and evening rush hours as thousands of drivers queue to get in or out of Southampton.

The road is also used by people heading for New Forest tourist attractions such as the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Exbury Gardens and Lepe Country Park.

A serious accident on the A326 can result in vehicles being diverted through Marchwood and Hythe for several hours.

Now Lee Dunsdon, a Hampshire County Councillor for South Waterside, and Terry Scriven, the Liberal Democrats' Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for New Forest East, are demanding action.

A county council spokesman said converting the road into a dual carriageway would cost more than £5m.

She added: "It would be classed as a 'major scheme' and as such would need to be funded by the Regional Funding Allocation, which is administered by the South East Regional Transport Board."