The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has condemned the opening of a pub on the M40.

Situated on the motorway service station at junction two in Beaconsfield, the Hope and Champion is licensed to serve alcohol from 09:00 and is open between the hours of 04:00 and 13:00.

Despite the claims of pub owner Wetherspoons that they display road safety warnings throughout the building and will refuse to serve anybody who has had too much to drink, the RHA remains unimpressed.

Spokeswoman Kate Gibbs called the decision to open the pub irresponsible and said that developments like this should be actively discouraged in the future. She added: "With the ever-increasing traffic numbers now seen on the motorway network, the idea of deliberately  putting the temptation to drink in front of a driver is absolute madness."

The pub cost £1.8 million to build and is expected to provide 120 new jobs.