LORRY drivers could be forced to use specialist HGV sat navs to prevent them getting stuck in country lanes after the issue was raised with Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has written to Mr McLoughlin raising the issue of HGVs regularly getting stuck on the county’s narrow lanes.

In one case a fuel tanker driver spent two nights in his cab after his vehicle became stuck on Tutton Hill, Colerne, last year.

Stuck HGVs can a danger to the public physically, Mr Gray says, and can also cause damage, the cost of which falls on the public.

He said: “Right across our area there’s quite a number of places where HGVs are using totally inappropriate tracks and quite often getting stuck.

“I understand one reason for that is they are using cheaper versions rather than the HGV ones that costs quite a bit more. That’s why they land in strange places.

“It’s happening in Colerne and Ashton Keynes but is an issue across the area.”

Wiltshire councillors Allison Bucknell and Jacqui Lay raised the issue with the Conservative MP after incidents in their wards.

Coun Bucknell said: “It’s a big issue in our area and the whole of Wiltshire but it’s a national issue as well and I’m surprised it’s not come up before.”

“We have a number of issues in our neck of the woods, where lorries are using the wrong roads and getting stuck, especially foreign drivers who don’t understand our road signs.

“They are not using HGV sat navs because they cost more money. You can put as many signs up as you want but people don’t always take notice so let’s see if we can tackle it from another angle to make it illegal for them to use the cheap sat nav.”