A narrow rural lane in Bradford has trapped its latest victim - caused by a combination of satellite navigation glitches or inaccurate maps.

The articulated lorry became trapped in High Fernley Road, Wyke, yesterday - leading to an operation lasting more than three-hours to winch it out.

And residents say they are at the end of their tether as the lane has been a magnet for lorries and, occasionally, buses, many of which become stranded.

And the villagers have demanded clearer warning signs are installed by Bradford Council to stop large vehicles using it.

The Council's principal engineer for traffic and highways south, Steve Thornton, admitted it was a "concern" and improvements to the signs had been included in the programme of works in this year's budget.

But Graham Tyler, a resident of Saxon Court, said the signs were urgently needed.

He said: "The road leads to the nearby woods and Woodside farm at the bottom, it's barely a road at all. We have wagons going down there all the time and being unable to get back out.

"Yesterday the 40-tonne wagon with a 40 foot trailer was stuck for three and a quarter hours.

"Vehicles have damaged a neighbour's tractor and they've knocked down walls in the past.

"If I'd been trying to go to work I couldn't have got out, if there'd been an accident or a fire no-one could have got down the road."

"They think they can get to Royds Hall Lane through there. There is a sign saying that it is not a through road but it's in an awkward position and isn't particularly obvious.

"All we are asking for is two signs telling people there is no access for HGVs down our road; it's not asking the world."

Mr Thornton said the existing no through road' signs were being misunderstood by motorists, particularly the drivers of heavy goods vehicles. He said: "We are now looking to improve the signs as part of our 2008/09 programme along with other works that need carrying out in Bradford south."

But Councillor David Robinson (Lab, Wyke) said: "Both I and my colleagues in Wyke have been fighting to get road weight restrictions but come up against the same old stories with Council claiming there is no money available.

"The Tory budget hasn't allocated nearly enough money for highway maintenance and it just isn't good enough."

Mr Tyler said the driver of the lorry which became stuck yesterday appeared to have been misled by the road map he was using but many others had been following the instructions of satellite navigation systems.

He said: "It's ridiculous - sat nav should be a drivers' aid not used instead of common sense."

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin @telegraphandargus.co.uk