Trailer flip crash damages historic bridge

A historic bridge has been severely damaged after a trailer being towed by a tractor flipped over and demolished half the parapet.

The accident happened on the Grade II listed Teme Bridge in Leintwardine, near Ludlow, last night.

Witnesses said the tractor was crossing the bridge, which is thought to date back to the 18th century, at about 9pm when its trailer, carrying a large amount of grass, fell sideways crushing the ancient masonry.

The road and bridge were sealed off by the emergency services and it remains closed this morning.

Lauren Cremer, duty manager at the Lion Pub and Hotel, situated next to the bridge said there was a 'horrible' noise when the trailer hit it.

She said: "The bridge is still cordoned off to traffic but people are allowed to walk across. We had quite a few people in the restaurant at the time of the accident.

I knew it was a crash straightaway because there was a horrible noise but at first I thought it was a car hitting another car."

Nick Williams, 27, was on the south side of the bridge when he heard a 'massive bang'.

"I heard the bang at about 9pm. The tractor's trailer had turned over while travelling south out of the village and destroyed eight to 10 metres of the wall.

"A huge chunk of the bridge was lying in the river with some of the grass. Quite a lot of the stone seemed to have disintegrated,

"Two fire engines, loads of police and half the village were on the streets. It was quite dramatic."

Force duty inspector for West Mercia Police, Nathan Pauley, said the road would remain closed this morning.