ANGER has erupted over a new road sign that has been put up in a village directing traffic to a major road, despite a campaign by residents to ban lorries using the route.

The sign has been put in place in Ockbrook, where residents have long complained over the number of lorries using the road to get to the A52.

Only a few weeks ago, a plea for a weight restriction order to be placed on the route through the village was turned down by Derbyshire County Council.

Villagers, who have spent 20 years campaigning against lorries using the village, said they felt the problem has been made worse by the sign in Green Lane which appears to endorse traffic making its way to the A52 through the village.

One resident, who lives in Green Lane, said: "Why would this sign be put up if not to encourage lorries to use this route rather than go through Spondon?

"I am extremely angry about this. There has been no consultation and no communication telling us this was going to be put up."

Villagers say HGVs using this route cause a danger to residents and other motorists and damage the foundations of their Victorian homes.

County council highways officers agreed the roads are unsuitable for vehicles above a certain weight but have said little can be done because the only alternative is to redirect the lorries through Spondon, already struggling to cope with traffic heading for the A52.

The problem was made potentially worse in November when Erewash Borough Council voted to allow a company at Stanley Storage Depot to operate 24 hours a day, increasing lorry movement overnight.

Jo Askin, of Victoria Avenue, Borrowash, said she thought the new sign was unnecessary.

"The new sign will certainly make motorists feel they are on the right road and that it is okay to use the village as a rat-run to the A52. It's not right."

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire County Council said: "We have a duty to provide accurate route information on our roads.

"This sign has been placed in Ockbrook to direct traffic already on the road through the village and avoid confusion for motorists looking to join the A52.

"The sign will not result in more vehicles travelling through the village but it should help cut congestion by keeping traffic flowing."