A RESIDENT today told how he awoke to find a 22-tonne articulated lorry had crashed into his front garden.

Adrian Bott who lives at Taylor's Buildings, Langho, looked out of his bedroom window to find a Sainsbury's lorry crushed up against his front garden wall.

Police said the lorry, travelling down the A666 towards Clitheroe, got into difficulties after the driver realised he was approaching a low railway bridge. They said he attempted to reverse the 30-foot long vehicle but it became trapped across the road, blocking it in both directions when the rear trailer wheels locked.

Police said the driver then attempted to put the lorry into reverse, which caused it to lurch forward and hit the garden wall.

Residents said the accident, which happened at 8.30am is the latest in a long line of similar incidents involving heavy lorries.

Mr Bott said: "We were in bed when suddenly we heard a load of banging and crashing and looked out the window to see a Sainsbury's lorry practically parked in my front garden. You can imagine my surprise.

"The most annoying thing is this seems to happen all the time. Nobody round here could understand why the drivers of these heavy lorries are given routes from Darwen to Clitheroe when the road isn't cut out for it. They should be told to travel down the A59."

PC Andy Spouse, of Clitheroe Police, said: "I don't know when the road will re-open this morning. It has caused quite a lot of inconvenience as it happened in the middle of rush hour. School buses couldn't get past, but I don't think the children were complaining!

"The lorry was travelling from Darwen to Clitheroe and attempted to turn back when he saw the low bridge sign. Its not the first time something like this has happened. Companies should look at using different routes."

Police closed the road between the A59 roundabout and the other side of Langho.