RUSH-hour chaos descended on Newport again today as a lorry crashed into a railway bridge on a major road.

The 30-tonne DAF truck was taking a load of paper to Bridgend when it hit the Ebbw railway bridge on Cardiff Road.

Just before 8am the 15ft 3 in lorry tried to make it under the 15ft bridge, with dramatic results. The trailer was jammed under the parapet at an alarming angle.

JME Transport driver James Griffin, 23, from Haverfordwest, told the Argus: "I was coming towards the bridge and then I heard a bang and came to a halt. Luckily I wasn't going at any speed. I was all right, just a bit shaken up. I just forgot the height of the trailer."

Police were soon on the scene and shut both lanes to traffic, causing long tailbacks and knock-on problems around the city.

A police officer on the scene told the Argus: "We've shut the road and are waiting for structural engineers to examine the bridge before we can remove the lorry. The bridge appears to be all right, but there is extensive damage to the trailer."

Derek Ibrahim, an engineer from Carillion Rail, said: "We've stopped freight trains going to and from the Machen quarry while we check the bridge and track. It does seem to happen to this bridge on a regular basis. I don't know what the answer is. I can't see Network rail paying for the bridge to be raised, it would be very expensive."

It is the second time the bridge has been struck by a lorry in under a year. The last time was in November 2002.

Jane Fletcher, manageress at Maesglas News, said: "On average I would say that this happens twice a year, which seems an awful lot to me. I think they should raise the height of the bridge. When it's hit it causes chaos.Just look at it this morning, and right in the middle of rush hour."

It was expected to take at least two hours to free the lorry and re-open the road.