A new rail transport system is being tested for the first time at Westbury Cement Works next month, taking cement out of the factory by train instead of by lorry.

Lafarge Cement is beginning a trial of a new system of multi-purpose rail wagons that can take cement by rail to other towns, where it's then loaded back onto trailers to be delivered to customers.

Westbury will be the first of Lafarge Cement's factories to trial the system, which it hopes will take pressure off roads leading from the Westbury works.

Works logistics manager Neil Hutchinson said: "We are really proud to be the 'home' works for the first trial runs of this system.

"The system gives us the potential to get out cement directly into urban areas by rail, bypassing congestion on major routes."

The Blue Circle Consortium, a collaboration of Lafarge and engineering companies, came up with the design for the new rail trailers, and won a £2.9m award to develop and trail it in the Strategic Rail Authority's Innov- ations competition in 2000.

Lafarge Cement is holding a series of open days from June 19-21. To book, call (01373) 828400.