The new lorries, which will be permitted from 31 May, will feature a longer semi-trailer (LST), an extra-long semi-trailer, measuring up to 2.05 metres longer than a standard semi-trailer.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the lorries can move the same volume of goods using 8% fewer journeys than current trailers, saving 70,000 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere over 11 years.

The claim compares with the recent revelation that the Government had to increase its forecast of carbon emissions from transport by millions of tonnes of CO2 annually because of a number of factors including higher HGV traffic,

The DfT pointed out that the move follows an 11-year trial and said that operators will be encouraged to put extra safety checks and training in place.

It said the trial showed that LSTs were involved in around 61% fewer personal injury collisions than conventional lorries.

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