RESIDENTS have blasted lorry drivers who continued using a notorious road on the day a ban on HGVs was introduced.

Dozens of lorries were still trundling up and down the Grane Road between Blackburn and Haslingden yesterday despite a new weight restriction.

Today police warned that they would prosecute HGV drivers found to be using the danger road after a short period of grace to ensure they had seen the signs.

Road safety campaigners have been fighting for years to see a weight restriction imposed on the road, known as an accident blackspot due to the number of heavy vehicles using it as a rat-run to the M65.

The weight restriction, which has been agreed by Lancashire County Council, bans vehicles of more than 7.5 tonnes.

Tony Hodbod, of Grane Residents' Association, said: "I went out to get my papers and saw a number of wagons still using the road, including a steel wagon, a big lorry from Sweden and others just in the space of five minutes so nobody is paying attention to the restrictions.

"The normal procedure is for the police to monitor it but I haven't seen any.

"It's only the first day and this was to be expected but we need to ensure there is enforcement because it's a legal measure and they don't make sense unless they are enforced."

The residents' association is also campaigning for a 40mph speed limit, speed cameras and a roundabout near Haslingden cemetery.

Margaret Murray, also of Grane Residents' Association, said: "I will feel deflated if in two weeks time it is still happening. The police need to monitor the road and prosecute lorry drivers not adhering to the restrictions."

Rossendale inspector, Caroline Edwards, said: "We will be monitoring the road but weren't able to do so yesterday because of other operations taking place.

"We would ask the public to help us. If people do see lorries using the road we would ask them to take the registration number down and contact us about it. We will then take action for offences contravening the weight restrictions with either tickets or prosecutions."

Coun Tony Martin, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for sustainable development, said: "We have a period of grace where police will stop HGV drivers. After that they will be prosecuted."