Lancashire Police confirms it has discovered that two trucks belonging to a Norfolk contractor working on an Isle of Man government project were unroadworthy and had to be transported home 272 miles on a low loader.
In a Freedom of Information request made by Commercial Motor, the Sergeant of the Heysham Port's policing team says two out of eight HGVs stopped and registered to RJ Holbrook were found to have brake imbalances.
Last week, the Norwich-based firm said just one vehicle had been sent home for being unroadworthy (CM 12 November).
The revelation will make uncomfortable reading for the Manx government, which has defended the decision by construction contractor Colas not to use local hauliers for its airport extension scheme. It said it had to accept that a requirement to utilise local resources "must 
also be reflective of the need for the contractor to ensure that the services they are obtaining - in this case trucks - are fit for purpose, safe, competent and provide value for money."
Lancashire Police says of the eight RJ Holbrook vehicles stopped "two were found to have a brake imbalance, which is a minor defect. At the officer's discretion, and as the vehicles had not left the confines of the port or entered the mainland road network, it was decided with the co-operation of the company that these two defective vehicles would be transported by low-loader so as to avoid the commission of any offences on the highway. Had these vehicles been stopped by VOSA on the highway, a delayed prohibition could have been issued."
It adds: "No further action is being taken by Lancashire Constabulary in this regard, although a report has been forwarded to VOSA."
A VOSA spokeswoman says: "Because VOSA was not directly involved in this police-led operation we are unable to comment 
about the details including the defects found on these vehicles. Any investigation we might undertake is a matter for VOSA and the operator concerned."
RJ Holbrook said it was unable to respond before CM went to press.