Stuck truck causes bother
Market Drayton shoppers were left trapped on a town car park for more than an hour after a heavy goods vehicle got stuck blocking the road. The white Renault Magnum lorry jacknifed and became trapped between a wall and railings in Queen Street.
The white Renault Magnum lorry jacknifed and became trapped between a wall and railings in Queen Street at around noon yesterday.
The vehicle belonging to Andrews Transport is believed to have headed down the no-through road and tried to turn around but got stuck between the wall at the back of Natwest bank and the railings by the town's Post Office, blocking the car park access route.
Police were called to deal with the market day chaos and about 80 cars were left stranded. A rescue operation was set up to help stranded shoppers, get the HGV shifted and divert traffic away from the scene.
Constable Mike Sturland said: "We didn't expect this as we thought the HGV driver was having problems reversing back up the road which sometimes happens."
He revealed airlines on the HGV had also been damaged, immobilising the lorry.
The route was clear after the HGV was towed away about an hour later. Drivers borrowed each other's mobile phones so they could cancel appointments and call home.
Ann Mazan, of Wem, said her four-year-old daughter Katie had missed nursery due to the delays. Her passenger, Laura Parker, missed a job interview in Shawbury due to the chaos but was fortunately able to reschedule it.
The recovery team eventually cut down the railings with a chainsaw to help the HGV. The driver of the vehicle did not want to comment.
By Oliver Cartwright
