A CRIME commissioner has called for urgent action to stop the destruction of a market town’s heritage after lorries caused more damage near a historic landmark.

Kerb stones were dislodged opposite the Market Cross, in Barnard Castle, when three ten-wheel articulated lorries passed it at about 5am this morning.

Inspector Kevin Tuck confirmed three Polish HGVs had been on their way to Scotland when the drivers got lost after being diverted from the A1.

One damaged the stones while trying to negotiate the landmark, which acts as a roundabout, at the top of The Bank.

Insp Tuck said the drivers pulled into a layby following the incident to swap details with Durham County Council’s highways department and no one was injured.

Also known as the Butter Market, the building has been particularly affected since work began to improve the A1(M) as more HGVs have been passing it.

Damage has also been caused to the nearby County Bridge - which is subject to a weight restriction - with one incident in 2015 seeing part of it fall into the River Tees after a lorry carrying a forklift truck illegally drove over it.

The Barnard Castle HGV Action Group was set up last year to find ways to tackle the problem with the ultimate aim to install a bypass for the town.

Durham County Council has since introduced solid kerbing to guide HGVs around the Market Cross, but said it needed to wait until the diversion on the A1(M) was lifted before major works could begin.

An updated survey on the Market Cross is being carried out for the council ahead of a funding application to restore and conserve the building later in the year.

However, the action group, along with Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, are calling for urgent action.

Group member and Barnard Castle Town councillor, Judi Sutherland, said the incident was “a great piece of evidence that we cannot go on allowing vehicles this size to use the route through Barnard Castle”.

The group examined the site with the county council’s strategic traffic manager, Dave Wafer, in April, but Cllr Sutherland said no significant progress had been made.

She said: “It’s up in the air, but we are asking the council to come up with some creative solutions.”

Mr Hogg added: “We need a clear indication from Dave Wafer now regarding the scheduling of the survey. I must express my massive disappointment that this does not appear to have been commenced. It is now imperative that action is taken.”

Barnard Castle’s Mayor, Sandra Moorhouse, said the town council had consistently asked the county council to take action over the landmark damage and the increased traffic in the town.

She said: “In planning applications, and particularly for the new housing in Startforth, we have consistently said that any increased traffic into the town and on the services is detrimental and we needed to know what was going to happen because we don’t have responsibility for it. We have brought that up every time.”

Adrian White, the county council’s head of transport and contract services, said: “We are aware of the frustration caused by damage to Market Cross by HGVs travelling through the town. Earlier this year, we replaced road markings with solid kerbing to better guide HGVs around the structure and have already improved signage in the area.

“We are continuing to assess the issue to determine the best course of action going forward.

“Again, we would appeal to companies and HGV drivers to consider if this is the most appropriate route to take and to heed the weight limit on the bridge.”