Traffic delays on A38 in Derbyshire after lorry with digger on board struck bridge

Early morning commuters on the A38 were left facing long delays through the rush hour after a lorry carrying a digger struck an overhead bridge.

The incident northbound on the A38 at the Watchorn Island near Alfreton happened at about 2.10am on Thursday (January 8) but the road was not cleared and reopened until 9.45am.

It left motorists facing delays of at least 35 minutes as they queued to leave the road via the entry and exit slip roads. Advertisement Advertisement

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Traffic using the A38 faced long delays well into the morning as diversion routes became congested, which were set up to take traffic through Alfreton to rejoin further north on the road.

Derbyshire police said they were called to "reports that a lorry carrying a digger had struck the bridge at Watchorn Island at Alfreton.

Officers were deployed for traffic management and then was left in the hands of the Highways Agency".

It is not known if anyone was injured in the incident but the road is flowing freely again.