A STRICKEN lorry cargo caused chaos to motorists on the A3 on Monday. A lorry carrying a pre-fabricated hotel room lost its load while negotiating the Ham Barn roundabout at 10am, blocking the Liss exit and causing misery for motorists. Police from Whitehill, who were on the scene at 11am, said the 23-and-a-half ton lorry negotiated the roundabout at a "very slow" speed. At around 2.30pm police used a crane, especially ordered from contractors in Kent, to lift the mammoth concrete structure, which was blocking one of the two lanes on the roundabout. Police said there were were long delays until late in the evening as the B3006 into Liss remained closed, with three-mile tailbacks stretching back towards the Birdworld turn-off. Both carriageways of the A3 were re-opened at 8.30pm. Police at the scene said the stricken Ebis hotel room had come from Dartford, Kent, and was being taken to Portsmouth to be shipped. The room contained a wash cubicle and bed. Pc Craig Bodenham, of Whitehill police, said: "The tractor came away and as the other end attempted to negotiate the roundabout it toppled to its nearside." Police shut the A3 while the stricken cargo was lifted from the road. The vehicle and load was taken back to Kent on a low-loader.
