A LORRY driver was hit with a £150 fine for urinating in the street - leaving furious residents questioning the council’s tactics.

Thurrock Council’s environmental enforcement Officers slapped the driver with the on-the-spot fine in Manor Way, Thurrock.

Council staff caught the man and even captured body-cam footage of him as irrefutable evidence.

Council bosses say the fine comes as part of proactive enforcement patrols officers are carrying out to crack down on HGVs being parked illegally and drivers committing acts of anti-social behaviour, such as littering or public urination.

But it was met with public fury as residents were not sure it was a great use of council time.

One resident said: “And where the hell was he supposed to pee?

“I often see mothers letting their children pee in the gutters, bet they don’t get fined. Shame on this council enforcing this on someone doing his job without facilities.”

Another said: “If you want goods delivered to your shops you need to make sure there is ample and safe parking for these men and women who provide a service to the nation as a whole.

“Without them there is no food on the table. It is common sense when you think about it.”

One mum added: “All of your (the council’s) enforcement workers get to go home in the evening, where do lorry drivers get to go? It would be more in line to facilitate drivers with proper parking areas with facilities that negate this and to put proper bins into lay-bys.”

A taxi driver also joined the debate highlighting lack of public toilets for those working on the borough’s roads.

He said: “I’m in a similar position as a cabbie, there are very few public toilets and I have to rely on my mate’s garage.

“There is a law that’s never been taken away that taxi drivers can stand to rear left of their vehicle to pee if needed, but you can hardly pee in the middle of a housing estate now can you...”

However, a council spokesman said: “Increased patrols will continue to target areas where reckless and thoughtless HGV drivers think they can park wherever they like and show total disregard for Thurrock and its residents. Robust action will always be taken and fines issued wherever possible.”