SPIRITED Bradford on Avon volunteers took to the streets this week to track oversized lorries crossing the town’s historic bridge.

The town council has started the new Lorry Watch scheme in the town, which monitors the number of offending lorries which ignore the bridge’s 18-tonne weight limit and pass through the town.

The volunteer-led scheme, which operates Monday to Friday between 7am-5pm, will see people standing near the bridge and making a note of oversized vehicles’ registration plates.

Their findings will be collected by Bradford on Avon Town Council, who will pass them on to Wiltshire Trading Standards and the DVLA to issue warnings to offenders. Repeat culprits could end up with a fine of up to £1,000.

Bradford on Avon deputy mayor and town councillor John Potter said: “We’ve had 23 recorded sightings of oversized lorries, which is more than I expected.

“I’m very proud of the volunteers. We have around 40, which has allowed us to fill all our one-hour volunteer slots for this week.”

Cllr Potter, who completed his vigil on Wednesday, said that of the 23 vehicles recorded by yesterday morning (Thursday), one was foreign, which can’t have action taken against it under the Lorry Watch scheme but its details will be passed on to the police. The remaining 22 British lorries will receive a warning.

Cllr Potter said: “I hope when the companies get the letter of warning from Trading Standards that will be the end of it, as we don’t really want to nick them and fine them, we just want to prevent them flouting the weight restriction signs.

“If I was a lorry driver and got a letter from Trading Standing I’d remember not to come through Bradford on Avon again.”

Lorry Watch will continue in the town for at least the next month and the town council, which co-ordinates the scheme, is still looking for volunteers.

Anyone walking through the town who spots an offending vehicle on the bridge is asked to make a note of the time, date and vehicle registration then hand it into the town council offices.

Call 01225 864240 or pick up a log form from the council offices.