Roadside spotchecks have revealed one in four vehicles are overloaded in Oxfordshire -- creating a danger and damaging road surfaces.

Police and Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards officers found 26 per cent of 239 vehicles randomly stopped in the past six months were overloaded.

Several operators whose lorries were seriously overloaded are being prosecuted and could be fined up to £5,000.

As part of a new scheme to stop overloaded vehicles before they get on the road, trading standards officers are visiting companies to offer free advice and training.

Senior enforcement officer Martin Woodley said overloading vehicles gave companies an unfair commercial advantage as well as creating a road hazard.

He said: "We are trying to reduce the number of overloaded vehicles on the road rather than prosecute and stop drivers before they commit the offence."

The first advice session will take place at Johnsons (Buildbase) in Cowley, Oxford, on March 2.

Companies who would like to arrange a training session should call Mr Woodley on 01865 815000.