Residents and business-owners have complained that a historic bridge in their village is constantly being battered by large lorries.

There is a weight restriction on Basford Bridge Lane in Cheddleton – but it seems many lorry and tractor drivers are paying no notice.

Staffordshire County Council says heavy goods and agricultural vehicle drivers need to adhere to the 7.5 tonne limit which is in place on the Grade-II Listed bridges.

One is maintained by the county council and the other is maintained by the Canal and River Trust.

Last year, the county council installed new signs at each entrance to the lane to remind drivers of the restrictions.

However HGV drivers have continued to flout the restriction in recent weeks, causing significant damage.

The county council says it is working with the police and other authorities to protect the bridges and promote road safety on the narrow country lane.

Residents say they are fed up with damage that's been caused.

Sandra Corbishley, 60, said: "We have a lot of HGV lorries, sometimes they are foreign so they don't understand our language maybe and they get confused.

"Some do turn around at the top – but we've had quite a few go over the bridge and it's quite annoying to a lot of people.

"It's such a pretty area that it's a shame that the bridge does keep getting damaged and it's obviously costing money.

"We've had a couple of times where the stones have been knocked off. They've only recently finished repairing it again.

"When they're repairing the bridge they block all the road off, it must have some affect on the local pub because their car park is on the other side of the bridge.

"It can't be good for their trade."

She joked that having the road closed does sometimes have its advantages.

She said: "It's quite nice when it is blocked off actually because when I'm walking the dog there's no traffic coming past me – because it does get quite busy in the morning."

Meanwhile, pub landlords Julia and Vince Hendrickson said each time the road is closed it affects their trade.

Mrs Hendrickson said: "Six months we've been here and two/three times it's been up for repair.

"They're just coming down, speeding, and hitting the bridge. It's just constant – tractors, everything that's too big and too heavy.

"The council say they're going to put a camera up and take all that [scaffolding] that they've got there. They've not said when.

"Three weeks it's been shut – and it has a massive impact on The Boat business-wise."

Mr Hendrickson added: "It's frustrating for us as it impacts on our business which is already a seasonal pub.

"People complain all the time about tractors and lorries coming up and down and obviously they're very concerned about the amount of time the road has been closed – and they're concerned for us as well, which is nice."

He added: "In this day and age there should be an easy solution – stick a camera up there so you can see who's doing it."

He said drivers would be more careful if they were fined for breaking the rules.

"Once they have to start paying for it then they're not going to be doing it, or they're going to be a lot more careful."

Meanwhile, local resident Geoff Preston has a more radical suggestion.

He said: "I'd like the bridge closed permanently.

"Both the bridges are Grade-II Listed structures. They were built hundreds of years ago and the stuff that comes over them now is just unsuitable for them.

"It'll destroy them eventually and it'll cost a fortune to keep them going.

"If they were closed it'd be no inconvenience. People just go round the other way, it's not as if it's a major route.

"Pedestrians could use it and cyclists could use it. It would protect the bridge and make it less noisy here, I don't like all the noise – but that's a personal thing."

He said there was a risk of losing old-fashioned stone bridges altogether, as many have been replaced with concrete and steel girders over time.

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways Cllr David Williams said: "We'd again like to remind drivers of heavy vehicles not to access Basford Bridge Lane.

"The weight restriction is in place to protect people's safety and the structure of the Grade II Listed bridges.

"A significant amount of damage has been done in recent weeks and months to the bridges, causing significant disruption and at cost to the trust and the county council.

"We have communicated with local businesses to remind them of the restriction and will continue to work with partner organisations to find a longer-term solution."

Sally Boddy, from Canal & River Trust, said: "We would strongly encourage drivers of heavy goods and agricultural drivers to stick to the weight restrictions on the Grade II Listed canal bridge on Basford Bridge Lane.

"This bridge is part of the heritage and history of the local area and is protected under its heritage listing.

"Repairing damage to heritage bridges can be extremely costly and working with our partners, we want to make sure that they are protected for future generations to enjoy as part of the region's historic canal network."