HGV'S are thundering along unsuitable roads and through town centres causing a nuisance and making it hazardous for shoppers to cross the road.

In Fordingbridge lorries rumble through the high street few minutes, according to shop staff and shoppers, because of the industrial estate in nearby Sandleheath.

And in Ringwood lorries are going through the narrow high street because their satellite navigation systems are directing them through rather than around the town.

Valerie Reed who works in High Street shop Jessica's in Fordingbridge said a pedestrian crossing is needed on the bend near the shop.

"People cross here to cut through to thedoctor's surgery and I sometimes have to go out and help an elderly person to cross the road. There's a heavy lorry every five minutes."

Mayor Alan Lewendon said he wants to see changes to the district plan regarding the site of industrial premises: "The problem we have is that our local industrial site is at Sandleheath so everything goes through the High Street and from Alderholt Road.

"This is why we would like some industrial allocation among the district plan when it is redrawn. Any industrial estate should be to the East of Fordingbridge preferably and on a main road."

He said that members of the public were always complaining about the lorries: "All we can say is we agree with you but there is nothing we can do. The layout of Fordingbridge is unfortunate, there's no way around the town."

And the situation could get worse after Easter when there are proposals to close off part of the High Street to allow pavements to be fixed.

Town Hall Clerk Helen Tague commented: "Local people will go round Normandy Way but I wonder exactly where all the heavy traffic will go."

In Ringwood the town mayor Brian Terry said lorries are causing problems in the town centre and have got stuck and blocked up the High Street.

He said several residents had made complaints to satellite navigation companies because drivers of HGVs admitted it was their Sat Nav equipment that directed them through the town's narrow high street.

"It's one of those cases where modern technology isn't conducive with high streets that were built a hundred years ago."

He added Eastfield Lane and Clough's Road are also problem areas when lorries have been diverted off the A31.