Police ordered SEVENTY-THREE potentially lethal trucks off the road last month alone.

And another FOUR HUNDRED wagons were found to be faulty during the force campaign.

Problems included defective brakes, lights, tyres, broken suspension springs, cracked wheel nuts and overloading.

Some drivers had no operating licences while others had been behind the wheel longer than the law permits.

Knutsford's traffic Sgt Brian Rogers said any of the 73 lorries which needed on the spot repairs could have killed.

"They were potential deathtraps," he said.

"Braking and handling was affected badly in some cases by defects and overloading. Any vehicles that size can cause destruction or a serious accident."

Department of Transport officials will now decide whether to prosecute offending haulage firms or take away operating licences.

More than 1200 lorries, wagons and tankers were stopped on the A556 at Rostherne, near Knutsford, during July.

But Sgt Rogers warned more checks would be made in Knutsford.

"We were pleased to get so many faulty HGVs out of harm's way, but disappointed by the number of operators running defective vehicles," he said.

The lorry clampdown was carried out as part of a county force campaign to target traffic problems. Other measures included spot checks on school buses, taxis and speeding drivers.

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