STACKSTEADS residents fear lorries hurtling the wrong way down a one-way street will cause a fatal accident.

They claim around half a dozen HGVs a day are illegally turning down Farholme Lane to access a local mill.

And they fear poor visibility could cause a pedestrian to be struck.

However, kitchen furniture manufacturers J and J Ormerod, who own the mill on the road, said the problem is caused by parked cars blocking off the access to the road forcing lorries to approach it from the other direction and travel the wrong way.

Joint managing director, Lee Greenhalgh, said lorries belonging to other firms did the same and that the problem had been made worse by a housing development on the street.

He pointed out that motorists ignored parking restrictions at the top of the road.

He added: "The county council are aware of this as well as the police.

"We have had several meetings with the council and they are meeting with us today to try and do something about it."

Paul Moore, who has run a butcher's shop on the street for 25 years, said the problem started two years ago and was getting worse.

He said: "It's dangerous, full stop. It's a blind turning into it and you can't see what's coming.

"They should not be coming down it. It's getting worse and worse and is an accident waiting to happen. The residents are all annoyed with it.

"You go out this afternoon and do 34mph and you will get done by police for speeding.

"But there's HGVs coming up the wrong way and nobody does anything about it. But what's more dangerous? It's a rule for one and one for another."

Mr Moore said he had contacted the police, including six calls in one day, and Lancashire County Council to complain but nothing had been done.

And he complained that the lorry drivers forced motorists using the road correctly to dangerously reverse by bullying them into moving out of their way.

He added: "It's totally and utterly wrong and nobody is doing anything about it. The authorities are prepared to a turn a blind eye to it. No one wants to know.

"It's dangerous and the wagon drivers are very rude. It's disgusting. There's no please and thank you, just get out of the way."

Lancashire County Council and the police were unavailable to comment.