WHILE driving down the A1 recently, just after the Chester-le- Street interchange, we spotted what seemed to be the plastic back cover of a television on the road ahead. I said to my wife: “I’ll bet there’s a scrap wagon up ahead.”

As we travelled a little further, there it was. A van with junk piled high and completely unsecured.

Then, all of a sudden, a chair came flying off on to the road just narrowly missing a red hatchback car.

This was irresponsible of the scrap merchant and downright dangerous for anyone travelling behind. He did pull over, but only to see what had fallen off. These vehicles are a menace.

When are the authorities going to put a stop to this dangerous overloading? Someone is going to be killed.

Lawrence A McGowan, Sherburn Village.