Concerned residents in Walton have called for an end to their "two years of hell" after stranded trucks repeatedly break fences and smash walls after trying to cross the village's Bailey Bridge and having to turn around.

A group of homeowners near the bridge, who have asked to remain anonymous have spoken of how they have put their bodies on the line on a number of occasions to stop the large vehicles from attempting to cross the narrow bridge.

There is a width restriction of seven-and-half feet and a three-tonne weight limit for the bridge which means large trucks cannot use it. It also means lorries are having to turn around, normally on private driveways which causes damage, they claim.

They are calling for restrictions and signs at the entrance to the village banning the large trucks from entering.

One of the residents who lives close to the Bailey Bridge has explained how one fence post at their property has been damaged three time, costing £540 to fix.

They said: "We are just sick to death of it. We've approached Trading Standards a number of times, but they say that technically they're not breaking any laws, so there's nothing they can do.

"The police have been informed and they've been nothing but useful, but again it's not illegal. We just want the signs changing."

The fence post which has been damaged three times by reversing vehicles
The fence post which has been damaged three times by reversing vehicles

They went on to explain that they can only see it getting worse due to the upcoming closure of St Peter's Bridge in Stapenhill on Tuesday, August 29.

"This has been going on for years but with the upcoming closure to St Peter's Bridge, we think it's only going to get worse and the last thing we want is even more damage being done."

Councillor Pat Murray, the district councillor for the Seales ward has taken the issue to the county council, who are currently looking for a solution.

Councillor Murray said: "We are looking at different possible things with the county council. We are doing our absolute best to accommodate. These vehicles simply won’t fit, if they try to go down and don't, they reverse up onto peoples drive and their gardens. The county council are looking at it and we need to wait and see what gets sorted."

A digger attempting to cross over the Bailey Bridge
A digger attempting to cross over the Bailey Bridge

The controversy of the Bailey Bridge

The Bailey Bridge itself is no stranger to controversy, having been intended to be and will one day be for pedestrians only.

Plans to build a bypass in Walton-on-Trent continue to be delayed, a process that would see the Bailey bridge closed off to cars and traffic and a new bridge built.

These plans were initially proposed more than five years ago as part of a deal to build 2,200 new homes in Drakelow, by Drakelow Developments Ltd which agreed to fund the bypass.

Construction of this bypass would bring about the end of decades of frustration for villagers and motorists who used the Bailey bridge to travel between Burton and Swadlincote.

An original bridge was built in 1834, which lasted more than one hundred years before needing to be replaced by a temporary version - the Bailey bridge. Army Royal Engineers erected this on top of the old bridge in 1947, removing part of it to allow for a support to be built on the Staffordshire bank of the river.

Flood damage had meant the engineers were called in to install the Bailey bridge after the severe winter of 1947. The bridge was once again replaced in 1974 with a modern version but still a temporary Bailey bridge structure.

Roughly 8,000 vehicles, including 300 lorries will travel through the village and surrounding rural roads and parts of Burton and Stapenhill every day. Eventually, a multi-lane road will be built to connect the A38 and Walton Road, running over the River Trent.

Looking for a job? There are thousands available at www.Fish4.co.uk