Road reopens after lorry carrying digger hits bridge

National Highways began a "complex and lengthy" recovery operation after the lorry struck the bridge

The A52 in Nottinghamshire has reopened after a lorry carrying a digger hit a bridge earlier.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews were sent to the A52 Radcliffe Road, near Radcliffe on Trent, on Thursday morning.

The eastbound side of the major route - between the A6011 at Gamston and the A46 near Bingham - was closed for several hours.

National Highways confirmed the road reopened, and the scene had been cleared, shortly after 17:00 BST.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area while emergency services attended

Drivers were urged to avoid the area while emergency services attended and diversions were in place.

One motorist, Amer Ghani, 53, a broadband engineer from Nottingham, said he was stranded in traffic just past Stagglethorpe Road towards the RSPCA in Radcliffe on Trent.

He witnessed the crash as he drove towards Nottingham at about 11:00.

"A JCB on the back of a low-loader hit a bridge and came off," he said.

Mr Ghani rerouted back in the opposite direction, but said the traffic was "bumper-to-tail".

"A police officer came down and told some of us that unfortunately the JCB has spilt diesel oil and there could be a possible gas leak, so they are waiting for the relevant services to come and do the clean-up and check the gas," he added.