A road was blocked for 25 minutes by a lorry this morning on the day dubbed Carmageddon.

Residents of Spring Lane, Lexden, Colchester, looked on as motorists tore up grass verges and knocked over fence posts as they tried to create room for the lorry to move out of its tight spot.

Traffic queued in both directions on the day experts predicted could become a nightmare on Britain's roads.

But Jenny Hepburn of Spring Lane watched the incident unfold.

"The lorry was stuck and there was traffic everywhere," she said.

"They all started reversing and turning round. They were tearing up verges and they knocked over a couple of posts."

The lorry eventually managed to turn back and head off in the direction he came from only to return moments later to have another go.

The narrow winding lane, she claimed, has often been the site of accidents, with cars ploughing into gardens or clipping one another on the tight corners - mostly due to inappropriate speeds.

Her husband Keith and other neighbours have now begun keeping a photographic record of incidents.

Mrs Hepburn said: "It's a total nightmare living round here. They roar along here first thing in the morning and again in the afternoon.

"If they were going at a respectable speed, they would be all right. It is totally unnecessary."

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