THERE is a growing sense of disquiet in a Thurrock community over the increasing impact of lorries on the local environment - and possible risk to pedestrians and motorists.

Though East Tilbury has a long history of transport and environment issues because of the proximity of the former Mucking tip, recent developments have seen a number of sites opened up in the neighbouring countryside that has brought an increase in lorry traffic.

Particularly concerning is the number of large mud-caked lorries passing through the village.

The problem of mud and muck on the roads is such that a resident recently took it upon himself to go out and carry out a major clean-up of road signage which had been covered in dirt.

Another resident took to social media to say: "Our footpaths at the crossing are lethal along Princess Margaret road as is the zebra crossing by the doctor's surgery.

"Is it not possible to get these cleared either by the lorry operators or council? And is there anyway we can impose a 20mph limit on lorries - a Walsh lorry must have doing about 45mph at the school crossing and didn't attempt to stop (raised his hand to say sorry) because he wouldn't have stopped in time without skidding.

"Other schools have 20mph limits except ours. "Something has surely got to be done about them by now."