A councillor is demanding action after another lorry became stuck at the notorious Oak Road railway bridge in Rivenhall.

Ward councillor James Abbott (Green, Witham North) wants more prominent signs installed warning of height restrictions after being inundated with complaints from residents.

An HGV driver became stuck for several hours after realising the size of his vehicle a little too late on Tuesday evening.

He said: "Residents along both sections of Oak Road are seriously fed up with HGVs going down these narrow roads when if Essex County Council had got its act together years ago many could have been safely and sensibly rerouted.

"As things stand the new measures I have requested to try to reduce such incidents rests with the Highways Panel, which I am on.

"But the panel has no money until the new financial year, and even if new measures do get funded there is a one to two year wait."

Previous proposals to lower the weight restriction in the surrounding area were shelved when the route for the three-lane A12 was set to be announced.

But Mr Abbott says with the A12 plans some way off he wants to see something done sooner rather than later. He has written to Ian Grundy, Essex County Councillor responsible for highways, calling for the Oak Road case to be reopened, and has asked Witham MP Priti Patel for her support.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said there is already clear signage in the area warning lorry drivers about the height.

"There are advance warning signs on both sides of the bridge, as well as low bridge height warning signs on the bridge itself which also is covered in coloured warning stripes.

“Drivers must pay attention to the regulation signs which are in place at the junctions before approaching the bridge.

"The last sign on the side of the bridge this driver has arrived on is half a mile from the bridge and clearly warns of the restricted height ahead. It is at that point that the driver should have turned off.”