A BUS lane blamed for a surge of accidents on Winwick Road is to be scrapped.

A tense meeting of the traffic committee on Wednesday night narrowly approved a scheme to open both lanes of the A49 outside Tesco to all forms of traffic.

The committee, meeting in the Town Hall, was told that since the bus lane was introduced when the supermarket opened three years ago, there has been a rise in accidents when the two lanes merge.

The approval could see the start of a massive change to the road as traffic bosses look for a solution to the congestion headaches in the area.

These plans include a widening of the route, and a reopening of the direct link to Winwick Street, currently closed off at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, to buses.

But the plans, which were only agreed on the casting vote of chairman Judith Wheeler (LD - Whittle Hall), were opposed by members of Warrington Cycle Forum.

They said the accidents could be avoided with better signage.

And they argued the reports of congestion were false, showing committee members a picture of the road empty at rush hour this week.

They also said the route is currently one of the best into town for cyclists.

Removing the bus lane would also see the scrapping of the cycle lane currently in place.