MOTORISTS faced long rush hour delays after a crash which damaged a bridge on the A12.

Two lanes of the southbound A12 were blocked, after a digger which was being carried on a lorry struck the Wellington Bridge and fell on the carriageway.

The incident, which happened shortly after 5pm yesterday, resulted in long traffic queues on the southbound carriageway.

There were also delays on the northbound carriageway, as drivers slowed down to look at the crash.

A structural engineer was called to examine the bridge, which carries traffic on to the northbound A12 at Junction 20B.

Access on to the bridge has been closed for safety reasons.