THE driver of a dangerously-loaded skip lorry who police stopped on the M4 has been handed more than £800 in fines.

Another motorist called the police after seeing the vehicle with three skips on it travelling between Junctions 18 and 17 at around 2.15pm on Saturday.

Officers stopped the lorry at Leigh Delamere and escorted the 52-year-old driver to Badbury to have the vehicle inspected.

It had torn straps and the wrong type of hooks, and the body of the skips were rusted around the hooks.

After speaking to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, police found the driver had committed several offences, including having no MOT or driver's card, and having the load in a dangerous condition.

The driver must pay £880 in fines and received notice telling him to have the tacho calibrated. The vehicle was seized.

Sergeant Will Ayres, from Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Thanks to this eagle-eyed member of the public we were able to quickly locate the vehicle and the driver and carry out the necessary checks.

“It is clear that this situation posed a real risk to other road users and we are just grateful that we were able to intervene before serious harm was caused.

“Anyone who drives these types of vehicles has a duty to ensure their load is road-worthy and there are strict rules they need to be following to ensure they are operating in a safe way.”

You can read more information and advice about driving offences on our website: https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/driving-offences/