A private road which runs through a military training base is being closed overnight after locals kept using it as a shortcut – even during training drills where live rounds were in use.

The Mundford to Wretham road which runs through the middle of Stanford Training Area (STANTA), just north of Thetford, has become a 'rat run' for locals, according to staff at the area.

In a message to Mundford and Wretham parish councils, bosses at the training area said 'civilian vehicle incursions' had reached 'unacceptable levels'.

The road will now close fully from 6pm to 6am, and Major Tim McMullen, STANTA training safety officer, said the road had no public access anyway.

'It's used as a shortcut by people but they are not covered by insurance when they are on there, it's a military training area which is protected by by-laws and there are sheep all over the road. Our troops need to know they can cross that road safely, and it's next to a live fire range, which means people are putting themselves at risk,' he said.

Major McMullen added that he would urge drivers to stop using the road, and use the alternative routes available. The training base covers 30,000 acres and was established during the Second World War.

In recent years it has been used to train troops for combat in Afghanistan, with a state-of-the-art replica Afghan village being built there.

Julian Gibson, clerk of Wretham Parish Council, said the council would be briefed about the situation at its next meeting with STANTA representatives in October.

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