THE driver of a dangerously overweight truck was slammed by police for "risking so many lives" on the M4.

Officers from Wiltshire's Roads Policing Unit, pulled over the vehicle at Membury Services on Friday after it was deemed to be illegal and overweight.

It was classed as a Special Types, General Order, which allows unusual vehicles to be driven on UK highways.

But the truck had no STGO and was 13 tonnes over its design weight of 73 tonnes.

And its driver was also caught falsifying driving records.

Police officers stopped the vehicle from continuing its journey and the driver was reported to court.

Writing on social media, WiltsSpecOps said: “RPU have stopped this 73-tonne illegal STGO wagon, 13 tonnes over the design weight, no legal exemption on the road and the driver falsifying driving records.

“Prohibition issued and the driver will be sent to court, driving overloaded and out of hours risking so many lives.”

Police seize vehicles for being dangerously overweight on the M4.

On June 7, a white van was prohibited from continuing its journey after officers spotted it being overweight.

When they pulled the driver over, police discovered that the van was overweight by over 800kg.

This resulted in the suspension snapping and oil being leaked onto the road.