AN MP and a senior roads official are locked in a war of words over juggernauts using Cricklade as a rat run.

North Swindon MP Michael Wills hit back angrily after receiving a letter from Richard Lander, who heads Wiltshire County Council's environmental services department.

Mr Wills had contacted Mr Lander about residents' campaign for something to be done about the lorries they claim thunder along High Street at up to 50mph on their way through the town.

But when Mr Lander wrote to Mr Wills, he claimed there was no serious problem, that High Street had a good safety record of only four accidents in three years, and that he could not justify using limited council funds on Cricklade.

But Mr Wills wrote back: "There is widespread feeling among Cricklade residents that action is taken to their detriment and in favour of other areas of the county."

Mr Lander also dismissed a remark by Mr Wills that the situation was desperate and called on him to produce evidence to back up his claim.

The MP responded by saying: "I should be grateful if you could let me know how else, in your view, you would describe a situation where huge HGVs regularly travel throughout the day at 50mph and more through a narrow, curving high street.

"How many accidents and deaths would you require before you would describe the situation as desperate?"

Cricklade Town Council chairman Clive Wilce said: "It is a serious problem for residents who have to live with lorries thundering up High Street day after day."