HUNDREDS of people across East Lancashire head for car boot sales every Sunday to browse and buy.

But police believe their keenness to find bargains is putting lives at risk as people queue up to enter sites from the fast and dangerous A59 in different parts of the Ribble Valley.

Any permanent developments in such spots beside a busy major road would stand little or no chance of being approved by planners today.

However, because of a loophole, both police and councillors are powerless to stop the organisers of these Sunday sales in fields.

No local authority consent is needed provided they are not held more than 17 times a year.

Faced with this situation, police can only warn of the risks posed by drivers queueing to get into fields beside the A59 and remove illegal posters advertising the sales.

Apart from the obvious dangers of queues of standing traffic on a major road, passing motorists are also in danger of being distracted by the sight of all the activity at sales which often include attractions like bouncy castles.

The loophole that enables such events to not require any kind of permission needs to be closed quickly.

In the meantime, it is to be hoped that organisers will co-operate fully to minimise risk to life and limb.