AN Irvine-based firm has had its vehicle licence curtailed - after a wheel off one of their lorries smashed into a hearse.

Scotland’s Traffic Commissioner has rapped the William Tracey Group after one of their vehicles caused havoc during a funeral procession in Paisley last year.

The nearside wheels spun off the truck during the incident on December 31 with the other ending up on the central reservation of the M8.

Based in Shewalton Road, the company employ around 25 people at their depot but have now had their licence curtailed by 10 weeks.

Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken also reduced William Tracey Group’s licence authority from 144 to 121 vehicles.

They also operate from sites in Beith, Linwood, Lugton, Glenrothes and Newbridge.

Miss Aitken acknowledged that while there was no history of similar incidents, there had to be some form of regulatory action.

She said: “Had there been proper wheel security processes the loss of these wheels simply would not have happened.

“Given the weaknesses identified by the inquiry, there will be a curtailment.

“This will serve as a marker to the operator of the seriousness of adhering to the licence undertakings and that compliance measures have to be credible. 

“The operator should be in no doubt that if I find evidence of this nature again in any future investigation of this operator then a curtailment to the margin will not be the outcome.”