SURREY County Council has expressed regret at the delay in installing electronic warning equipment at Wrecclesham bridge, after yet another major accident caused traffic chaos last Thursday.

Work on the hi-tech safety installation was planned to start at the beginning of the year, but was put back because of "funding issues and work pressures."

In the latest incident, on Thursday afternoon, a HGV hit the bridge and toppled onto a pick-up truck coming in the opposite direction, leaving both vehicles trapped beneath the bridge.

The driver of the Excel Logistics lorry, a 33-year-old Lancashire man, suffered slight facial injuries and ws taken to Frimley Park Hospital. He was later released.

A 51-year-old man from Havant, driving the pick-up truck, was believed to have been admitted to hospital with a suspected fractured collar-bone.

At the time of going to press, he was said to be in a stable condition.

The lorry, containing hair-gel, was returning to its base in Staffordshire when it struck the bridge, flipping over on to the pick-up truck.

The road was closed at Coxbridge roundabout until 1 am in the morning. Rail services on the Farnham to Alton line were disrupted for nearly two hours whilst safety checks were conducted.

Farnham Fire Officer Bryn Strudwick confirmed three appliances attended the scene at 4-08 pm.

He said: This was one of the most difficult extracations we have had to do. Because of the weight of the lorry, we had to stabilise it to get the driver out of the pick-up truck. It took an hour and 50 minutes to cut the driver free."

Mr Strudwick added that a ladder was used to release the driver of the up-turned lorry, and the doctor at the scene said it was "miraculous" injuries had not been greater than they were.

Assisting in the recovery operation were Tilford Firm JD Motors, who employed several specialised rescue vehicles.

Dave Drew, of the company, said they opted to cut the driver of the pick-up truck out of his vehicle rather than drag it to more accessible point to prevent further road surface damage.

An eyewitness at the site, Alan Driver, of Kingsbury Furniture store opposite Wrecclesham bridge, described the scene.

He said: "We felt the ground shake in the store, and I went out and saw the lorry had hit the bridge then dialled 999.

"I have been here since 1984, and this is the 11th or 12th time this has happened - we always know when a lorry hits the bridge as our building shakes."

Senior Surrey County Engineer Chris Fairhead, said it was "very sad" the latest accident came just a week before they were due to start work on the delayed safety system.

He hoped the equipment - some 80 metres before the bridge - would be effective in dealing with the problem, but said there still "remained a risk" if drivers missed the electronic warning signs located on both approaches to the bridge.

They are expected to be fully operational within three weeks.

Not convinced by these reassurances, Wrecclesham roads campaigner Mike Murphy believed warning signs should be placed a greater distance before the bridge - which he said had many road distractions

He added: "Some-one told me another lorry hit the bridge the day before the latest accident (Wednesday), and he hadheard of another on Friday in which the driver was able to reverse out of the bridge. That is three hits in a week."