TRANSPORT firms delivering to the Co-op megashed in its first year of operation paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines as punishment for their lorry drivers rat-running along minor roads around Andover.

A regime for fines was part of the agreement when planning permission for the Co-op megashed on Andover Business Park was granted, with each violation of the rules resulting in a £500 penalty.

Figures obtained exclusively by the Andover Advertiser reveal that in the year since monitoring of HGVs began in October 2011, 742 lorries used illegal routes.

The fines paid over that period total £371,000, which goes to Hampshire County Council. Some of the cash is then forwarded to Test Valley.

Read more in this week's paper.