The Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee discussed a petition lodged on the issue by local campaigner Jill Campbell.

After hearing evidence from Mr Rumbles on the increase in the number of accidents on the A90 at Laurencekirk in recent years, the committee agreed to contact roads agency Transport Scotland to query the conclusions that it has reached from accident statistics on the road

Mr Rumbles said: "The accident statistics at the three A90 junctions which serve Laurencekirk are stark. Although accidents at the southern junction have decreased since a 50mph speed limit and speed cameras were installed in 2005, the number of accidents at the other two junctions have more than doubled. This clearly indicates that traffic is being displaced to the other junctions."

Campaigner Jill Campbell, who attended the meeting of the Public Petitions Committee, added: "All we've ever asked for is a flyover so that people can access and exit the A90 at Laurencekirk safely. If we don't get a flyover it is only a matter of time before we have another fatal accident on this road."