TWO drivers who broke weight regulations have been fined after being stopped in South Gloucestershire.

In the first incident, Bristol-based Chinese supermarket Wai Yee Hong Limited was fined after Trading Standards officials stopped a heavily overloaded delivery van in Tormarton.

The Mercedes van, with a 3,500kg gross weight, weighed in at 5,280kg when it was weighed by officers. Each axle was also found to be over the weight limit. The supermarket, based in Eastville, was fined £1,450 and ordered to pay costs of £1,296.82 plus a £15 victim surcharge after being found guilty at North Avon Magistrates’ Court.

Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: "South Gloucestershire roads are among the safest in the country so we take a dim view of motorists who flout vehicle weight restrictions, thereby putting themselves and other road users at risk."

Trading standards and licensing manager Mark Pullin said: "Officers, in partnership with the police, regularly conduct enforcement checks to ensure that owners of commercial vehicles observe the weight restriction imposed on their vehicles. Exceeding the weight limits of a vehicle can have serious safety consequences and lead to the driver losing control of their vehicle."

In a separate incident, driver Cameron Davis, of Richmond Villas, Avonmouth, received a six-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to driving a 32-tonne lorry through Wickwar High Street.

The village has an 18-tonne environmental weight restriction in force and Davis was caught by Trading Standards officers who conducting a regular patrol.

Davis was also ordered to pay costs of £425.16.

Said Cllr Goddard said: "Environmental weight restrictions are imposed to protect communities from the noise and pollution from inappropriate heavy goods vehicle movements.

"Heavy goods vehicle drivers should pay particular attention to traffic signs, because they can impose extra restrictions on them, and obey them at all times."