The number of lorries coming into the country through Dover could be substantially reduced if people bought more locally-sourced food and drink.

That's the view of the Campaign to Protect Rural England who are calling for more thought to be given to alternative ways of dealing with the increasing numbers of lorries coming through Kent.

They are asking the authorities to put plans for a lorry park on hold.

"Much of the freight traffic passing through Dover is transporting food," said a CPRE spokesman. "One-quarter of the miles travelled by HGVs in the UK are used in the transport of food.

"By sourcing more of our food and drink locally, or at least from within the United Kingdom, we can make an enormous positive difference to the need for internationally transported goods, reducing ‘food miles’ and carbon emissions.

"Although this may well be influenced by factors such as rising oil prices, it will not only be a matter of personal choice but will require action by government to promote this change."

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.