A SOLICITOR representing six East Lancashire lorry men has claimed quarry firm Tarmac should be put in the dock for "walking away" from its responsibilities.

Michael Cunningham hit out at the firm during the case of tipper lorry operators and drivers accused of falsifying or failing to keep full tachograph records.

The case at Blackburn magistrates' Court was the latest as part of the prosecution of 38 lorry men following an investigation codenamed Operation Flintstone into Tarmac quarries in the Clitheroe area.

John Heaton, prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, said that the drivers' hours and tachograph regulations existed for road safety purposes.

The men before the court had either failed to record part of their working day or had deliberately made false records.

Defence solicitor Mr Cunningham said: "If anyone should be in court it should be Tarmac.

"They have walked away from this.

"These men are not criminals.

"Some of them are mortgaged up to the hilt to pay for their wagons.

"Tarmac say they can work for other people but in practice it is not allowed.

"Tarmac will ask for a wagon at two hours' notice after the driver has already worked that day.

"If he does not take it in he will find no work there the following day." Christopher Kavanagh, of Martin Drive, Darwen, was fined £450 with £100 costs for falsifying records and taking less rest than legally required.

David Lawrence Walmsley, of Chatburn Road, Clitheroe, was fined £150 for two offences of falsification and given a conditional discharge for 12 months for five offences of keeping an incomplete record and one of taking insufficient rest.

David Dennis Walmsley, of Pimlico Road, Clitheroe, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 costs for keeping incomplete records.

Paul Young, of St Mary's Gardens, Mellor, was fined £300 for four offences of falsifying records and Michael Whiteside, of Ennerdale Road, Clitheroe was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 costs for keeping incomplete records.

Nicholas Gill of Park Avenue, Euxton, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 costs for two offences of making an incomplete record.

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