Residents campaigning to stop a 'rat run' past their homes were furious after a lorry got stuck on the corner of the street.

The truck, which tried to cut through Ringslade Road yesterday, was eventually freed by a team of police officers after residents moved their cars to give it extra space to reverse.

Parminder Sandhu, who has been campaigning against the volume of traffic cutting through Ringslade Road, said: “The traffic was then backing up and there was chaos because of cars turning into the rat run and then turning out again.

“Residents had to move their own parked cars so the HGV could reverse.

“The irony is that the council says they can’t shut the road, but when something like this happens the road has to be shut anyway.”

Hundreds of cars cut through the street every day, and stuck lorries have become a familiar sight.

In theory, anyone driving a vehicle weighing over 7.5 tonnes down either Watsons Road or Ringslade Road can be fined, but no fines have ever been issued.

Haringey Council said that this was because it could not park CCTV cars safely in Watsons Road.

Mr Sandhu accused the council of doing little to enforce the law.

He said: “There was a meeting in January 2013 where residents met with the council and councillors to discuss the immediate steps to be taken to stop HGVs driving down Ringslade Road and Watsons Road. The council promised to take action.

“Since that time numerous coaches and HGVs have travelled down the road and got stuck because of the failure of the council and the councillors to do anything.”

A Haringey Council spokesman said: “We are investigating this incident, and are continuing to work closely with residents to consider options that address their concerns about traffic.”