Hundreds of screws dropped on lane

Pub landlord Bob Bulman says Camesworth Lane, just off the A3066 south of Melplash, has become a ‘disaster zone', with screws left strewn along the road.

It is believed they are being accidentally dropped from the bottom of a truck by an unsuspecting tradesman.

Mr Bulman, landlord at Waytown's Hare and Hounds, said his vehicle has suffered eight punctures and hundreds of pounds worth of damage in recent months.

He said: “It’s been a nightmare. I have spent £500 plus on new tyres over the past few months.

“It has been the talk of the pub and the village, but hopefully it stops soon.

“People do not realise how much it happens to others but obviously we hear about it at the pub.

“I have had eight punctures now and have collected bucket loads of screws.

Mr Bulman has now taken matters into his own hands and started collecting the screws himself.

He continued: “I travel down there two or three times a day, and now I have started borrowing a magnet wheel and going down there with that.

“I’ve got loads of old ones so they have been there a while - some of them were rusted.

“Lots of residents in Oxbridge use that lane going to Bridport and now some have even been tying longer ways around to avoid it.”

Mr Bulman says the incidents have been happening for the past six months but he believes it is entirely ‘accidental’ and hopes speaking about the issue will lead to the person responsible becoming aware.

The pub landlord added: “It is quite a bumpy road and most of the screws are near the bumps so I expect it’s an accident.

“Most likely a truck has gone there with screws in and has a hole in the bottom somewhere.”

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: “Our team were not made aware of this problem, but we have now dispatched a street cleaner to clear up the road. We would strongly advise members of the public to report these issues directly to Dorset Council via our website or by calling 01305 221040 as soon as they are spotted. Thank you.”