A NOTORIOUS underpass has been named one of the most bashed bridges in the Anglia region.

Network Rail has placed the bridge outside Manningtree station on the A137 on its top ten list for the most commonly struck bridges, with ten strikes recorded between 2020 and 2021.

The Manningtree bridge has suffered many incidents over the years, with the most recent one in July, when a van got stuck causing delays around the station.

READ MORE: Van wedged under bridge in Manningtree

READ MORE: Oops! Another van becomes wedged under notorious underpass

Back in 2012, a double-decker bus had also ploughed into the bridge and suffered extensive damage.

READ MORE: Double-decker bus crashes into bridge

The Network Rail reveals coincide with the relaunch of their Wise Up, Size Up campaign, which aims to encourage lorry drivers and haulage operators to take better care by knowing the height of their vehicles and choosing suitable routes before they head out on journeys.

The scheme was launched ahead of the annual Black Friday and Christmas shopping rush, which is traditionally deemed a peak period for bridge strikes.

It also comes as newly qualified lorry drivers are expected on Britain’s roads this year to meet supply chain demands and fill the drivers shortfall.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Bridge strikes cause unnecessary delays, costs and safety issues for road and rail users.

"To compound matters, they drain public funds which should be used on upgrading and improving our network.

” In recent years we’ve done a lot of work with partners across the industry to tackle this problem and whilst it’s encouraging to see numbers on the decline, there’s a lot more work to be done.

“Drivers who chance it at low bridges are at risk of losing their license and Network Rail looks to recover the entire repair and delay costs from the driver’s employer."

There have been more than 1,600 bridges hit over the past year, with the most bashed being the Coddenham Road bridge in Suffolk, which was struck 19 times.

This amounted to £41,331 in train delays and cancellation costs.

Here is a list with the most struck railway bridges in Britain for 2020/21:

1. Coddenham Road Needham Market, Suffolk19 strikes

2. St John's Street Lichfield, Staffordshire 18 strikes

3. Harlaxton Road Grantham, Lincolnshire16 strikes

4. Stuntney Road Ely, Cambridgeshire 15 strikes

5. Bromford Road Dudley, West Midlands 13 strikes

6. Watling Street Hinckley, Leicestershire 11 strikes

7. Warminster Road Wilton, Wiltshire 11 strikes

8. Ipswich Road Manningtree, Essex 10 strikes

9. Thames Street Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, 10 strikes

10. Lower Downs Road Wimbledon, London, 10 strikes