A CAMPAIGN group has pledged to be the eyes and ears of the community in a bid to help enforce experimental traffic regulations on a busy high street.

Stockton Pedestrians' Group has expressed concerns that the Traffic Regulation Order on the town's High Street is not being enforced.

The order, which came into place in September last year, allows only buses and cycles to enter the central section of the High Street between 9.30am and 4.30pm, seven days a week.

Travelling southbound from the parish church, past the Town Hall, towards the Swallow Hotel, only buses and pedal cycles have access.

Travelling northbound there is no access for vehicles except buses and pedal cycles between 6am and 6pm, apart from loading, which is restricted to 6am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 6pm.

Taxis and vehicles loading or unloading have access to the southern and northern loops and vehicles displaying a blue or orange badge have access to the northern loop.

The pedestrians' group feels that the order is being ignored by car drivers and has urged Stockton Borough Council to do something about it.

Ron Atkinson, chairman of the group, said: "The problem in Stockton is that the implementation of the rules is very lax. We would like some of the senior officers at the council to do a walkabout with us to witness the problem. In the meantime though, we will continue to campaign and will keep our eyes and ears open."

A council spokesman said they were aware of the group's concerns. "We are preparing a report on the experimental order that is in place in Stockton High Street, which will go before the cabinet in September."