Calls have again been made for action to prevent lorries getting stuck in the narrow streets of Colchester's Dutch Quarter.

The plea comes after a cab and trailer were stuck for almost four hours at the junction of East Stockwell Street and St Helen's Lane.

No one was injured in the incident on Friday afternoon and the Army had to use special lifting equipment to help remove the vehicle.

Offord Fenning, who works in East Stockwell Street, said: "It is incident after incident, I'm tired of losing work having to deal with the insurance company over and over again," he declared.

"This is not the biggest lorry to come down here, there was an Army trailer with a Navy boat once and another time people had to be evacuated after a petrol tanker got stuck - something has to be done."

Five weeks ago the Ipswich to Heathrow bus hit the building where his tax consultancy firm has offices, leaving scrapes in the brick work and a cracked window pane.

Dimitri Murray, chairman of the Dutch Quarter Association, said a comprehensive traffic review in the area was long overdue.

"What we want is a weight limit for the Dutch Quarter it is not too much to ask," he added.

Barry Layzell, head of transport and highways at Colchester council, said he was disappointed to see signs in Middleborough,St Peter's Street and Short Cut Road apparently ignored close to a historic area with narrow streets.

"We feel that the signs are of sufficient size that everybody should see and recognise them, " he added.

Mr Layzell said the council was considering more draconian measures to eliminate heavy goods lorries, as part of a long term traffic management scheme.

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