Children put at risk by abandoned truck (From Stroud News and Journal)

Children put at risk by abandoned truck

AN INVESTIGATION has begun as to why children were able to clamber into the cab of an unlocked dustcart after it was left unattended in a Stroud housing estate on Friday.

Furious Paganhill Estate residents who were worried the vehicle's handbrake might be accidentally released around the crowd of youngsters rang the police to asking for the garbage truck to be secured.

"I just could not believe it," said resident Malcolm Woodward, 50.

"There were children, under the age of 15 I think, running in and out of the cab. My first reaction was 'my God'.

"I dread to think what could have happened if they had knocked the handbrake and all that had come rolling down the road and killed a child.

"I want to know why that vehicle was left unattended and unlocked so children could play on it."

The rubbish truck, owned by Stroud District Council sub-contractors Greenmoore, broke down on the Paganhill Estate on Friday morning.

Although council staff were spotted around the vehicle during the day there did not appear to be anyone guarding it when the police were called at around 6.20pm.

Police spokesman Matt Ford said: "By the time we turned up it was certainly insecure."

Refuse contractors Service Team, responsible for taking out the bins throughout the district, said they still had no idea why the vehicle had been left unattended.

"We are fully investigating the incident with our sub-contractors," they told the SNJ. "We were not aware the vehicle was on that site and we will look into this formally."