Beds County Council announced on Friday that it was footing the bill for the £600,000 scheme.

Campaign spokesman, Sean Kelly, said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Wing and Linslade.

"We look forward to leaving our cars behind as we and our children use the new bridge.

"We'd like to thank all the demonstrators, including Andrew Selous MP and Cllr Netta Glover, and those who have supported the campaign over the last year including John Bercow MP, Beds county councillor Tom Wootton and the county council officers who have worked so hard on the bridge proposal.

"Building the new bypass without a safe crossing at its end was scandalous, almost unbelievably dangerous, and the bridge's completion will be a victory for common sense.

"We, our children and the environment will all benefit."

Mr Kelly from Wing and South Beds of the Earth organised a demonstration at the roundabout in April 2007 that was attended by over 100 people, including members of the Leighton Linslade Cycle Forum.

Forum spokeswoman, Esther Clarke, said: "The bridge is a crucial part of the town's cycling network which doesn't just look to encourage cycling within the town but recognises that our nearby villages are within easy cycling distance.

"People from the town should be able to easily access these villages as part of leisure cycling routes and the people in the villages should not have to rely on their cars or unreliable buses to access facilities in the town.

"It is important now that the councils focus on the roads and cycle routes around the station and between the station and the town centre to really make the bridge worthwhile.

"We would like to see improvements to Wing Road and Bunkers Lane as well as changes to the Wing Road/Leighton Road junction and cycle paths across the Linslade recreation ground too."

Victoria Harvey of South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth said members were "thrilled" that County Hall had agreed to fund the work.

"At last people have a safe alternative to using their cars, which can help to reduce congestion," she said.

County council cabinet member for planning and economic growth, Cllr John Scott, confirmed the funding.

He said: "At the latest executive committee meeting, councillors agreed that Growth Area funding should be used to build the Wing Hill cycle bridge. "Further planning arrangements still need to be made but we hope that the work will start soon."