A MAJOR road was shut for more than 14 hours after a lorry crashed into a bridge.

The A20 was completely shut at Harrietsham on Saturday after the articulated vehicle collided with the railway bridge, tipping onto its side, shedding its load of drainpipes across the road.

Stephen Morris, who lives 200 yards from the scene of the accident, said the driver was lucky not to have been injured.

He said: "I was out in the garden at the time and there was this tremendous bang. The lorry had turned on its side and the driver just walked out of the cab where the windscreen used to be. I’m amazed he wasn’t hurt."

Another resident came out of his home to find his garden covered in plastic pipes.

Police shut the A20 in both directions and the bridge, between Rectory Lane and Church Lane, had to be inspected for structural damage.

Trains on the Maidstone East to Ashford line were delayed for about an hour until surveyors declared the bridge had not been structurally affected by the crash.

The lorry, which was heading towards Maidstone, was thought to be several inches too high for the bridge.

Mr Morris said it was not the first time a vehicle had careered into the brick bridge.

He added: "It has happened about four times in at least six years. It was just lucky this time that it was a Saturday and there was no rush-hour traffic or it would have been chaos."

The road was not re-opened until 14 hours later.

A Kent County Council spokeswoman said: "All low bridges must have height signs and these are in place at Harrietsham. The highways authority may opt to install additional technology to complement these signs to give an additional advance warning, but not to act as a failsafe.

"Investigations are ongoing with regards to the detector equipment at Harrietsham, however we would urge all drivers to be aware of the height of their vehicle and to observe the signs provided."