OFFICIALS are cracking down of lorries parking on grass verges and footpaths.

West Sussex County Council has ordered district and borough councils to issue penalty notices to any lorry parked even partly on a footway or verge – regardless of whether there are waiting restrictions on the road or not.

Lorries found parked on central reservations will also be issued notices.

The clampdown is for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes.

Bob Lanzer, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We have seen an increase in reports of HGVs parking on footways in recent months.

“This behaviour causes all sorts of problems for residents. It stops people from being able to use pavements and footways safely. It causes damage to our verges.”