Villagers celebrated a complete ban on heavy lorries ratrunning past their homes with a Champagne breakfast this week.

Members of the Weston-on-the-Green action group toasted their success with Oxfordshire County Council chairman Catherine Fulljames and the man who designed the ban, former county council area engineer Colin Carritt.

The group launched its campaign two years ago with a meeting in exactly the same spot as the breakfast -- right next to the B430.

The permanent southbound HGV ban, from junction 10 of the M40 to the A34, began three weeks ago.

Campaigners said it has succeeded in stopping most of the rat-runners, although they would be writing to the head offices of the few stray lorries which appeared to contravene the ban and thundered past them during the breakfast.

A northbound ban started on Monday and will be in force for up to 18 months during the resurfacing of the A34 and the redesign of junction nine of the M40.

The action group is now calling for the northbound ban to be made permanent and for HGVs to be banned from using two northbound laybys on the B430.

Action group founder John Mair said the group was thrilled to celebrate its success with supporters.

He said: "We were delighted to have Catherine Fulljames there. She has been a rock in this campaign. She knows the B430 HGV hell first hand.

"Colin Carritt was 'on the other side' until he retired but now says he always admired our ambition and supported the basic cause.

"Now we are without HGVs, lives for all in Weston will be quieter and richer.

"House prices should reflect that. All villagers here, in Middleton Stoney and Ardley, should benefit.

"We have shown that where there is a will there is a way -- you can control your environ- ment."