CALLS have been made to stop heavy duty lorries travelling through Canvey town centre after one crashed outside a school.

The lorry hit a metal bollard and mounted the kerb while turning from Foksville Road into Furtherwick Road, puncturing three of its wheels just outside the new £28million Castle View School at around 8:45am.

Police were forced to cordon off part of the town’s one-way system for three hours while repairs were carried out to the vehicle, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.

Concerns have been raised over the safety of pedestrians and pupils as frustrated business owners claim lorry crashes are becoming a fortnightly occurrence in the town and that restrictions should be put in place to bring an end to the long-running saga.

Harry Awidikian, owner of Gold and Diamonds in Furtherwick Road, said: “This is happening once or twice a month, it’s ridiculous. It’s just becoming a normal part of everyone’s day now.

“The road is not wide enough for lorries, or even buses to turn down here, and it’s dangerous to keep allowing them to do it. Either widen the road or stop them coming down here.”

Gil Thomas, head teacher of Castle View, said thankfully all school pupils were inside the building when the crash happened.

Laura Bookless, assistant butcher at F & J Caring and Sons, in Furtherwick Road, said: “These heavy duty lorries shouldn’t be coming through here, they’re far too big and that corner is so tight.

“It’s so dangerous, especially when there is a school on the corner. Things like this happen every couple of weeks and you never know one day it could be much worse.”