NORTH West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell has ordered Crosby Ravensworth haulier Edmund Brewer to cut the fleet of 20 lorries he operates by half.

A public hearing at Carlisle was told that seven drivers employed by Mr Brewer were fined for tachograph offences by Kendal Magistrates, last March, after a lengthy Cumbria Police investigation.

Mr Brewer agreed to attend a Certificate of Professional Competence course, implement a written disciplinary procedure for his employees and provide further tachograph training to his 18 drivers employed at Penrith.

The order to cut his fleet effectively means two vehicles from Penrith will have to move to a second depot in the Midlands.