The non-political campaign is the initiative of Melton Chamber of Trade which is organising a public meeting on the bypass.

It will take place on Friday, July 13, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in the exhibition hall of Melton Cattle Market and businesses and residents are being urged to turn up in great numbers to show the strength of feeling on this issue.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan, will run along the same lines as the BBC's Question Time with questions from the audience.

The panel will include the leaders of both Leicestershire County Council and Melton Council, David Parsons and Malise Graham, Melton Council chief executive Lynn Aisbett, Melton police inspector Nigel Peters and planning and transportation experts.

The leaflets and posters promise an in-depth debates on the traffic issues facing Melton - congestion, the bypass and parking.

Event organiser Justin Morgan, of Keep Melton Moving, said: "If you travel in Melton by car, public transport or on foot, if you live, work or visit our town, if your children attend school or your business necessitates trying to get around Melton then this issue affects you.

"This is not simply an opportunity to talk or listen. It's an opportunity to speak up for yourself and your community with regard to how traffic chaos is impacting on your life, the environment and our town's lifeblood.

"We are faced with the prospect of another 10 years before our bypass is actioned. This is simply unacceptable."

The Melton Times is backing the campaign as a bypass or ring road for Melton is the most important issue facing the town.

* You can send your questions by e-mail to justin.morgan@ntlworld.com or to chamber secretary Michael Osborne at Harwood House, Park Road, Melton, LE13 1TX or call (01664) 564581.