RESIDENTS said 'something needs to be done' about the number of lorries ploughing into fences, metal gates and walls in Huncoat.

Damage is said to be being caused by lorries turning round when the drivers discover they are unable to pass under a low bridge on Bolton Avenue.

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Residents said that an 'unbelievable' amount of lorries use the road to get to Huncoat Industrial Estate and that many are forced to turn around 'every day'.

Calls for something to be done come as a pensioner on Bolton Avenue had her wall knocked down at about 5.30am on March 11 when a driver was reversing.

Gail Feeley, 70, said: "We had our fence knocked down a few years ago so we built a wall in its place and now this has happened.

"The driver was delivering to Bensons for Beds HQ, at Huncoat Industrial Estate.

"Bensons never came back to us, but the man who did it has paid for the wall to be fixed.

"The amount of wagons that come down here and have to turn around is unbelievable.

"I saw one wagon driver let the air down in his tyres so that he could make it through."

A sign on Burnley Road informs drivers of the low bridge, which is 14'3".

Fellow resident Rebecca Whiteley, 19, said her family's wall was knocked down last year.

She said: "When the lorry reversed, they blocked all of the traffic.

"My brother heard them hit the wall and he seemed quite panicked."

Another resident said: "It is a dangerous road.

"I have lived here most of my life and we have had three or four children killed along here."

Cllr Eamon Higgins, who represents Huncoat on Hyndburn Council, said he has approached local businesses to see if they can encourage their drivers to use an alternative route.

He said: "I have written to all of the businesses on the industrial estate to try and educate the drivers so that they do not come down this way.

"They need to find another route because it is becoming dangerous.

"On that road, there is also a bit of a problem with speeding motorists and we have arrange for speed cameras to be put in.

"I have recently been successful in efforts to get yellow lines painted at the junction of Bolton Avenue and Newhouse Road.

"Work is due to start in a week or two which should improve safety.

"Hopefully, with the above measures we will see a reduction of the problems you are having on Bolton Avenue."

Stephen Campbell, MD of Steinhoff UK Retail Services who owns Bensons for Beds, said: "We are very disappointed to learn that our neighbours on Bolton Avenue have been disturbed by lorries turning on their road.

"We have always strictly instructed drivers of larger fleet vehicles, delivering to and from our depot, to take the correct route to avoid the low hanging foot bridge and this is the first time we have heard of complaints of this nature.

"At Bensons for Beds we are committed to the local community and supporting our neighbours so we will of course be looking into these concerns as a matter of urgency and plan to reiterate the correct procedures to all drivers."