DRIVERS are to receive extra training in the use of nine state-of-the-art bin lorries which were taken off the road in Wychavon after two accidents.

The new lorries costing about £1 million in total were withdrawn last month after one overturned near Worcester and another at Hill and Moor Landfill They are now back in service following safety investigations.

Tony Adamson, director of operations with the lorries' operator, Focsa Services UK Ltd, said his faith in the vehicles was fully restored.

He said: "The chassis manufacturer Scania and the Freight Transport Association, a completely independent body, have looked at them, and both have given them a completely clean bill of health, we've got absolute confidence in them."

Mr Adamson confirmed human error had been a "substantial factor" in both accidents.

Mr Adamson added Focsa had called in Scania to give its drivers additional training on the lorries, to ensure there were no repeat accidents.

The nine lorries, which have special compartmentalised containers, are part of an 11-vehicle fleet that Focsa unveiled in October.

Replacement lorries were hired while these were off the road but Wychavon District Council's principal client services officer Sharon Casswell said: "There has been no extra cost to Wychavon or council tax payers."

She said it was Focsa's responsibility to cover the costs of replacement vehicles.

Mr Adamson confirmed Focsa was bearing the full cost, describing it as "considerable".