VILLAGERS have claimed the earth moves for them every night - because of articulated lorries delivering to a vegetable packing firm.

Residents from Birlingham, near Pershore, say their houses vibrate every time the 43-ton vehicles, destined for Red Star Growers Ltd, Woodfield Farm, Broadway Road, go past.

As well as causing sleepless nights, owners fear the lorries could be doing some serious damage to their homes.

"The road was built for tractors and small farm vehicles but now there must be more than 1,000 huge lorries going past every week and they shake the whole house," said resident Harold Freeth, of Upper End.

"I'm not getting any sleep and both my wife and I have health problems that are being made worse because of the stress caused by these vehicles.

"Every morning I go downstairs and the place is covered in dust from the vibrations."

The lorries have also been blamed for causing damage to roads and only this week residents say the main sewerage pipe has cracked under the pressure, spilling its contents on to the streets.

"They are a continuous disturbance and should never be allowed to come through such small roads as ours," said fellow resident Jean Searle.

"Just this week, both the water mains and the sewerage pipe have burst, and I am sure it is because of the weight of the vehicles.

"Also, I think they pose a personal risk. When I first came to the village in 1992 there were lovely wide grass verges to walk on. These have now been virtually worn away by lorries and every time one of them goes past you are in danger of being pulled into its slipstream."

The problems started a few years ago when Red Star expanded its operations. The company, as well as producing its own vegetables, now brings vegetables on to the site from other producers and washes, cleans, chills and packs them for distribution.

The company says it has always been sympathetic to the views of villagers.

"Agricultural produce has been traded out of the farm in Birlingham since 1925," said Red Star's managing director, Chris Simms.

"We have always been very sympathetic to the opinions of local people, with whom we have enjoyed a good relationship over the years, and we are anxious not to impair the quality of life in this pleasant and attractive village."