A LORRY driver’s reliance on his sat nav has been blamed for damage to a bus shelter in a village near York.

Wheldrake parish chairman David Randon says the shelter was hit by an articulated lorry turning from Main Street into Dalton Hill at about 7.30am last Thursday morning.

He said a front upright of the shelter frame was caught by the back of the lorry as it turned, shattering a glass pane. City of York Council had been informed and would be responsible for getting the shelter repaired, although he hoped it would recover the costs from the haulier.

He said the accident, which was witnessed by a resident, happened as the lorry was understood to have been heading to one of the industrial estates at Elvington.

He said it would be helpful if firms at Elvington advised hauliers delivering goods to them to avoid using inappropriate country roads.

Mr Randon said he had since contacted the haulier, based in Lincolnshire, who had confirmed that the driver had been using his satellite navigation equipment to go round the corner.

“This is another example of the inappropriate reliance on sat nav which has resulted in damage to the local infrastructure and travel on unsuitable routes with weight restrictions,” said Mr Randon.

He was referring to the repeated damage which has been caused by lorries to bridges over the River Derwent between Elvington and Sutton-on-Derwent, and also at Buttercrambe, near Stamford Bridge.

The latter has suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage over the years after being struck by heavy vehicles, with signs being installed on the approach to the bridge, warning drivers not to follow their sat nav directions.

North Yorkshire County Council has also raised concerns previously about the problems caused by lorry drivers who abandon their atlases and use sat nav instead, and end up blocking narrow country roads and damaging bridges.