A trucker was left baffled after being sent home from work and docked a day's wages on the hottest day of the year - for wearing shorts.

Graeme Woods, 40, hit out at 'health and safety gone mad' after his manager refused to let him drive his truck on Tuesday.

The stunned lorry driver from Preston was told his shorts went against health and safety rules, despite temperatures soaring above 30C.

Graeme Woods, 40, was left baffled after he was sent home from work and docked a day's wages on the hottest day of the year - for wearing shorts

Mr Woods said he was then docked a days wages and sent home from work for wearing the garments.

He said: 'I couldn't believe it. The manager refused to let me take the lorry out because I had shorts on.

'He said it was health and safety. But I've never heard that. And if it is then it's health and safety gone mad.'

Instead of doing his shift for Montgomery Transport in Preston, Graeme was left boiling over on the day the UK sizzled in temperatures topping some Mediterranean hotspots.

The lorry driver said: 'It's pretty uncomfortable to be in a lorry cab for hours on end when it's hot and sticky.

'Most have air conditioning, but it still isn't great.

'Monday was bad enough. But when they said Tuesday was going to be even hotter - in fact the hottest day of the year - I decided to put some shorts on to try and stay comfortable.

Mr Woods has hit out at 'health and safety gone mad' after his manager refused to let him take his truck on the road for wearing shorts

'I take pride in my appearance when I'm working and there's no way I would go out looking scruffy. But the man at Montgomery was having none of it. No trousers, no work.

'I drove home to get changed into my normal work pants, intending to go back. But my agency told me the firm had rung them and said they didn't want me back, ever again. I'm staggered.

'I've never heard of the rule before in terms of it being a health and safety issue. On a day like yesterday it's more likely to be a health risk wearing trousers rather than shorts.

'I've asked around other drivers and none of them had heard of it.

'And I've looked online to try and find out what the law says, but again I can't find anything, even on the Government's website, saying the wearing of shorts while you are driving a lorry is not allowed.

The stunned lorry driver from Preston was told the garments went against health and safety rules, despite temperatures soaring above 30C

'It would seem some companies allow it and others don't. It sounds to me like it's just down to company policy.'

Graeme missed out on a day's pay because of the ruling but his agency managed to get him back out on the road today, with another firm.

'I'm all for safe practices in our industry, but I'm sorry, I don't get this one,' Mr Woods said.