Heavy vehicles’ registration details are already being noted by volunteers at Station Road Bridge in Westbury, after the town’s new lorry watch group was launched last week.

Wiltshire councillor David Jenkins set up the scheme after hearing concerns from residents about heavy goods vehicles ignoring signposts clearly stating there is a 7.5 tonne weight restriction on the bridge.

Cllr Jenkins, who represents Westbury North on Wiltshire Council, said volunteers had already noted details of vehicles exceeding the limit and would be passing them to the council’s trading standards department.

However, he is appealing for more volunteers to get involved in the scheme based on the successful lorry watch group in Bradford on Avon.

Cllr Jenkins said: “We launched the scheme last week and we are starting it off as a pilot scheme to see how it goes. We do have a few volunteers, but we are still short of the number I would like to have.”

He said he had had a number of requests from people to take part and was currently going through them to organise when they can get involved.

“The more we have the better, though, and even if someone can only do an hour a week it would be a great help. It is very flexible.

“The volunteers we have at the moment have already been out a few times and taken down the details... so it is having an impact, we just need more volunteers.”

Lorries breaking the weight limit will receive a warning letter from Trading Standards after a first crossing and face prosecution for a second. The Bradford on Avon Lorry Watch group has contributed to about 30 prosecutions since 2011.

Contact Cllr David Jenkins on 01373 823605 or email davidjenkins53@hotmail.com