BRIDPORT town council is backing its neighbours' calls to set up a vehicle testing station on the A35.

Parish councillors at Chideock are lobbying authorities across the region to support their plea for the centre.

They say it is needed to reduce the likelihood of yet another defective vehicle running out of control and causing devastation in the centre of our village'.

In a letter urging support they say: The village has already experienced five accidents with runaway lorries and residents live in fear of re-occurrence.

It is clear from the arrester beds on Chideock Hill that lorries and HGVs cannot cope with Chideock Hill and the smell of burning brakes regularly pervades the atmosphere.

The parish council realises it is not the only settlement affected by HGVs and lorries and it has agreed to write to all communities living alongside and near the A35 between Dorchester and Honiton to enlist their support for this much-needed facility.' Bridport councillors decided to back the request when they considered it at a plans committee meeting.

But Coun Phil Lathey warned them that even if a testing centre was provided along that stretch of road they would have to fight to get it used.

And chairman Ros Kayes wondered where they could put it. Would it create traffic jams?

Coun Lathey said the only place was the former Frodsham motors site at Morcombelake. Coun Mark Parsons thought it was all a waste of money, stating they should simply use mobile testing stations.