FOREIGN lorry drivers who do not understand English road signs are causing a problem in a small village.

Some of the drivers have churned up part of the village green and damaged garden walls as they struggle to do three-point turns in Whorlton near Barnard Castle.

The drivers cannot get past a narrow stretch of road, flanked by metal bollards, which leads to a suspension bridge over the River Tees. The 174-year-old bridge, which is 180ft long, has a three-ton weight limit.

Local resident Keith Calder, a retired dentist, counted 14 trucks which were blocked and had difficulty turning during a three-week survey - and nearly all of them were from overseas.

Councillor John Stanwix, chairman of Whorlton Parish Council, said: "There are signs on the A66 and A67 roads pointing out the weight and width limit well in advance, but the foreign drivers seem unable to understand them.

"When they realise they can't go any farther, they have an awful struggle to get turned round, and some hit garden walls or churn up the village green. It might help if we could have some new road signs in French or Dutch, but highway regulations don't allow them."

Mr Calder got the name and address of one British firm whose lorry he saw damaging the green, and it sent the council £50 for repairs.

Durham County Council, which sent two officials to discuss the problem with the parish members, is now to ask the Ordnance Survey to have the bridge's weight and width restrictions made clear on all future maps.

Road signs pointing out the limits are to be made clearer, with an illustration of a lorry, which foreign drivers can understand more easily, showing the route they should take.

Jeff Stephenson, a county highway engineer who visited the village, said: "These new signs are now being made and should be in position in a couple of months. It is hoped foreign drivers will understand them and stop going into the village.

"In some cases where trees are partly hiding the signs, we will ask the owners to cut them back so that all drivers see the signs clearly and realise they should not drive into the village."