Police are hunting a lorry driver after he struck the roof of an A12 road bridge, causing closure of the road and hours of delays for motorists.

Police were called just after 8.50am to the A12 Kelvedon Bypass heading towards Colchester after the driver of the low loader HGV, which was carrying a crane or digger, hit the roof.

The A12 was closed for safety reasons before the southbound carriageway reopened at 12.15pm and the northbound at 1pm after a structural engineer, called in by the Highways Agency, said the bridge was safe but repairs were needed.

A lorry driver reported that he had seen the load on the back of the HGV stike the bridge and debris fall from the bridge, an Essex Police spokesman said.

“The offending lorry did pull over in a lay be but then left the scene heading towards Suffolk,” he added.

Police said no one was hurt in the accident.

Queues formed as officers worked at the scene. Congestion was reported back to Witham.

Call police on 101 to help.