FOUR lorry drivers have received fines totalling more than £4,200 after breaking a weight restriction on a busy road in Yate.

The cases were brought before North Avon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 21 by South Gloucestershire Council after Trading Standards enforcement officers spotted the vehicles breaching the 7.5-tonne weight limit on Station Road earlier this year.

Malcolm Lloyd, 51, of Wood Lane, Ashford in Kent was fined £260 and ordered to pay costs of £730.50 for driving his 44-tonne articulated lorry through the restriction on Tuesday, June 21.

Mark Lingard, 40, of Ambridge Grove, Peartree Bridge in Milton Keynes was fined £260 and ordered to pay costs of £702.60 for driving his 26-tonne lorry through the restriction on Tuesday 28 June. Both failed to attend court but were found guilty in their absence.

Andrew Savins, 42, of Isis Avenue, Bicester was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £670.60 for driving his 44-tonne articulated lorry through the restriction and Paul Grady, 45, of Brook Lodge, Lisburn in Northern Ireland was fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £1,032.38 for driving his 44-tonne articulated lorry through the weight restriction on Tuesday, July 26. Both drivers pleaded guilty by post.

All four drivers were also ordered to pay an additional £15 victim surcharge.

The weight limit on Station Road was imposed earlier this year.

Cllr James Hunt, executive member for communities, said: "These heavy goods drivers are the first to be prosecuted for driving along this restricted part of the A432 in Yate.

"Drivers of large vehicles should pay particular attention to the road traffic signs and obey them at all times.

"The council receives many complaints about lorry drivers ignoring weight limits and these prosecutions go to show that we will not tolerate local people being burdened with noise and pollution from these vehicles."

Stronger, safer, communities manager Mark Pullin said: "My officers, in partnership with the police, regularly conduct weight restriction enforcement checks, particularly in Station Road.

"This weight restriction was introduced in April this year but some drivers still ignore it. If drivers chance taking a short cut or following their sat nav systems rather than obeying the traffic signs, they may well find themselves caught out as indeed these drivers did."