More than 100 drivers were stopped from crossing Marlow Bridge in overweight vehicles within the first two days of a police crackdown last week. 

An operation to educate drivers about the weight of their vehicles started on March 1 in a bid to prevent a repeat of an incident that saw a 37-tonne HGV cross the weak bridge in September last year - forcing it to close for months. 

On the first day of the crackdown - which saw police officers standing at both ends of the bridge pulling vehicles that weigh more than three tonnes aside and issuing them with advisory notices - 54 heavy cars, lorries and vans were turned around. 

After the second day of the operation, a total of 112 vehicles had been stopped from crossing. 

Robyn Sutcliffe, owner of The Perch coffee shop in Marlow High Street, praised the work being done to protect the bridge from further damage, but said she could "see both sides" of the issue. 

Ms Sutcliffe, who co-ordinated the Marlow Traders Bridge Closure Claim Group (MTBCC) as the town's businesses fought to get compensation after last year's HGV incident, said: "It is difficult. I'm really glad they are protecting the bridge and doing what they can to prevent a bridge closure again like last year.

"However, I'm aware that there are a lot of local people who own big cars that are affected by the operation. It is not just lorries and vans, it is affecting people's journeys and commutes. 

"It is a fine balancing act. As a business owner you just have to hope people will still make the effort to come into Marlow a different way."