A van driver towing an trailer more than two tons over the weight limit has been stopped by police in Wiltshire.

When officers pulled the vehicle over, they realised it weighed 7,300kg despite the permitted weight being 4,700kg – 2,600kg over the limit.

The vehicle was not fitted with a tachograph, which records information about driving time, speed and distance to ensure drivers and employers follow rules.

Wilts Specialist Ops shared a photo of the trailer on social media, with the caption: “Stopped this combination, train weight permitted at 4,700kg this came in at a high lifting 7,300kg! Insecure load mixed with no tachograph and it’s a prohibition.”

A prohibition is designed to prevent the offender from driving any further until they get the problem with the vehicle fixed and a vehicle with a trailer is usually treated as two separate units, so the driver can get more than one prohibition issued at the same time.