THE driver of a bin lorry has come under fire after he was accused of holding a mobile phone behind the wheel.

An eagle eyed onlooker spotted a Bolton Council bin driver apparently holding his phone while driving on January 22, on Thomasson Close in Halliwell.

The onlooker, who was working on the road at the time, said it is the third time that he has spotted the driver of a waste disposal van holding his phone behind the wheel in recent weeks.

He said: "That's three incidents now that I have witnessed myself, and this is obviously a common thing.

"It is not long since what happened in Glasgow, and that showed how much destruction can be caused when you lose control of a vehicle that size."

He claimed the van hit a fence while the driver was using the phone, but claimed the consequences could have been much worse.

The onlooker added: "He clipped the fence with his wing mirror, which didn't cause much damage, but that is not the point.

"There could have been kids behind it or a pedestrian, they could have been crushed because the driver wasn't concentrating."

Similar complaints were reported to the council the day before, when a driver was spotted taking photos of the waste disposal truck's route during the winter weather.

Hugh German, from the Bolton Institute of Advanced Motorists, condemned the use of mobile phones while driving, saying that drivers should always pay full attention to the road.

Mr German said: "I think it's unacceptable in any circumstances to be driving and using your mobile phone.

"I don't think even handsfree devices should be allowed, because if you are on the phone, your attention is completely on that and you don't have full control of your vehicle.

"Drivers should concentrate purely on the enjoyment of driving — I go out to drive for driving's sake."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We can confirm we have received a complaint today. A full investigation into the incident will take place next week and appropriate action will be taken."