Some rail services in south Essex were cancelled or delayed for nearly 10-hours after a vehicle struck a bridge.

Network Rail has confirmed track running across the bridge, in Hawk Hill, Battlesbridge, was damaged as a result of the collision.

It meant there were no trains running between Wickford and Southminster between 6am and 4pm yesterday.

The problem also caused delays to traffic in Battlesbridge.

A Network Rail spokesman said yesterday: “The crash caused damage to the track which we repaired this afternoon.

“The line is now reopened but there will be knock-on delays and cancellations.”

Greater Anglia provided rail replacement buses and a shuttle service between Wickford and Southminster while repairs were carried out on the track.

Some other services between London and south Essex were also impacted by the incident.

Just last week, c2c services were delayed when a lorry hit a railway bridge in Spa Road, Hockley.

The line had to be closed for investigation work, but no damage was reported and it reopened within an hour.

Network Rail says there were 1,787 bridge strikes reported in 2019.

Of these strikes, 328 locations received multiple strikes and the most costly single strike amounted to £1.8 million in train delay costs.

Most of the vehicles that hit railway bridges are said to be HGVs and buses, at a cost of around £13,000 per strike –costing the UK taxpayer around £23m in a year.