A lorry which got stuck under a low railway bridge has been freed following a five-hour operation. 

The lorry got wedged underneath the bridge in High Road, Pitsea, around 9.30am today (Monday, July 5). 

Police were forced to shut the road near to the junction with Sandon Road and rail services using the bridge were put under speed restrictions. 

Network Rail was then forced to close the c2c line over the bridge for a few hours to allow for the recovery team to remove the vehicle. 

A spokesman for Network Rail said the lorry was freed by 2.30pm and train services would resume as normal. 

They added: "Bridge strikes like this cause widespread disruption to rail and road and for that reason we ask all drivers to know the height of their vehicle to avoid these incidents.”

An investigation found no structural damage had been done to the bridge. 

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A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We were called to assist after a lorry struck a bridge in High Road, Pitsea, shortly before 9.25am this morning, Monday 5 July.

"A road closure was put in place. No injuries were reported and plans were put in place for the recovery of the lorry.

"The structural integrity of the bridge will be examined before the road re-opens."

Bus firms First Essex and Nibs Buses, and rail company c2c said services around Pitsea were impacted by the incident.

High Road reopened to traffic at around 3pm.