SURREY County Council has been criticised for its failure to install an electronic warning system on the north side of Wrecclesham Bridge after another lorry got stuck underneath it on Monday afternoon.

The articulated lorry from the company, Christian Salvessen, was heading in the Bordon direction carrying JCB digger buckets. It was left partially on its side, with the contents strewn across the road, although the driver escaped unhurt.

Referring to the lack of an electronic warning device on the north side of the bridge, which warns of a height restriction, one policewoman at the scene said: "We make our recommendations to Surrey County Council, but as usual they do naff all.

"The highway authority really does need to do more and there needs to be much more warning at the Coxbridge roundabout."

The road closure around the junction of Weydon Lane and Green Lane caused congestion throughout Wrecclesham village which lasted until 5 pm when the lorry was finally cleared.

Criticism over insufficient warning to lorries has been voiced by local residents for some years following a space of incidents in which lorries have hit the bridge.

In May last year, an HGV hit the bridge and toppled onto a pick-up truck travelling in the opposite direction.

At the time, former Wrecclesham Residents' Association president Mike Murphy called for an earlywarning sign to be implemented on the county boundary to enable traffic to be diverted through Echo Barn Lane and Shortheath.

The warning system involves two posts with above ground detectors which beam across the road at 4.2 metres. If the beam is broken by a vehicle it will activate amber lights warning the driver to divert.

Surrey County Council spokesperson Joy Ridley refuted suggestions that motorists approaching the bridge on the northern side do not have sufficient time to adjust their speed.

"There is only one electronic warning signal in place on the south side. We have not installed on the other side because we are still negotiating land ownership issues.

"However there are several metal signs which instruct drivers."