Police have rapped the knuckles of 47 HGV companies caught breaching weight restrictions around villages in South Derbyshire - including Overseal and Netherseal - but none have been prosecuted.

At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors and members of the public asked Derbyshire Police representatives about ongoing issues with HGVs around Coton in the Elms, Drakelow, Linton, Netherseal, Overseal, Rosliston and Walton.

PCSO supervisor Kerry Wallington-Waite told the meeting that 47 HGV companies had been caught by police breaching weight restrictions around South Derbyshire villages and were contacted by law enforcement.

Of these companies, 16 are said to have had legitimate reasons following checks by police.

She said all of the companies were national firms which would not be returning to the area.

None of the companies have been prosecuted for breaching the weight restrictions with PCSO supervisor Wallington-Waite claiming the companies "are never going to be here again".

A local resident dubbed this "terrible" claiming the firms would come back again.

He said: "HGVs are coming through at all times of the night, down Coalpit Lane at 3am causing people to struggle to sleep. They have their air brakes hissing and reversing bleepers on. It is getting serious. You can't get a good night's sleep.

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"These companies come on a regular basis and I am absolutely gobsmacked that nobody has been prosecuted."

PCSO supervisor Wallington-Waite said the force had done a lot of work to help manage the issue with Derbyshire County Council, improving poor signage, "but we can't be there 24/7".

South Derbyshire police inspector Mike Sisman added: "We have done the engagement now with the companies and they will be prosecuted going forward. The team do not work all night and we probably need to go a little bit more. I accept your point.

"We have been told that drivers have been disciplined as a result of our engagement."

HGV issues throughout South Derbyshire's villages have proved a problem for years, with tight routes, including the infamous Walton Bailey Bridge, and narrow village lanes becoming blocked causing significant traffic woes.