Watch: Lorry wrecks bridge shutting key route

Alex Meakin,South of England and
Nathan Briant,South of England
Footage taken on Wednesday shows the lorry rolling over the bridge

One side of a key bridge in and out of a Berkshire village has been destroyed after a lorry drove into it.

The near side of the brick bridge, which carries Church Road over the River Blackwater in Swallowfield, was flattened by the vehicle on Wednesday. The lorry was then allegedly driven off.

A spokesperson for Ewals Cargo Care said it was aware of a subcontractor operating one of its trailers in the "regrettable" incident.

"The circumstances are currently under internal investigation and full cooperation is being provided to the local authorities," they said.

News imageA general view picture of the bridge, which has seen its side closest to the camera totally flattened, with metal railings bent out of place and bricks scattered nearby.
Access over the bridge in Church Road has been shut since Wednesday's incident

Graham King, a Swallowfield resident, said: "I take it [the driver's] sat nav took them around here. Although there are signs that say no long vehicles should come around this way, [the driver] obviously didn't take any notice of it.

"[Residents are] all a bit miffed with it all because it's the main route in and out."

Wokingham Borough Council said staff are assessing the bridge on Thursday "to make sure it is safe for traffic."

Thames Valley Police were contacted to comment.