THE bridge that has become the scourge of lorry drivers claimed another victim yesterday - sparking off what is set to be weeks of road chaos for the town's motorists.

The vehicle, a skip hire wagon, driven by Graham Hardy, aged 30, became the latest in a long list of lorries and buses to get stuck under the 12ft 6in railway bridge in Weston Street, on the outskirts of Bolton town centre.

The wagon, from P Lavelle and Sons Ltd, Waste Services, from Trafford Park, was travelling down Weston Street from Manchester Road, when it smashed into the top of the bridge.

It hit with such a force that its momentum dragged the vehicle through. Remarkably Mr Hardy of Worsley Road, Winton, escaped with minor grazes.

Traffic was immediately cut off from the street, and local garage owner, Mark Wallwork, helped divert vehicles until police arrived and sealed the road.

Railtrack engineers were also called out and trains travelling along the major line to Manchester were forced to slow to just 5mph over the bridge.

Damage, which was today still being assessed by engineers, is likely to force the closure of the road for some time sparking fears for local businesses. Garage boss Mr Wallwork said: "This last happened about a year ago and the road was closed for about 10 weeks. This time, the damage definitely looks worse.

"Last time I had just set up the business, and had no idea how badly I would have been hit by the lack of passing trade.

"Now I know it will hit me hard and I am going to have to try to claim compensation from Railtrack for the trade this is going to lose me."

Local residents ran out of their homes when they heard the accident.

Homeowner Mrs Anne Scarborough, said: "I just heard an enormous crash and knew what must have happened immediately.

"It is about time something is done. Obviously the bridge cannot be moved, but perhaps the floor could be lowered." "Lorries are always having to turn around at this bridge - about two or three a week. The foreign ones particularly think that they will be able to get through, until they get right up to it and realise they can't.

"Most of them think the bridge is 12 metres high, not 12 feet."

Mr Wallwork also described how the bridge closure affected pedestrians. He explained: "The whole bridge, with pavements either side was blocked off, so it left people having to take one to two mile diversions, just to get the few yards on the other side."

"Often, to fit through they have to go through the highest point at the centre, so race under, causing a danger to traffic coming the other way."

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