VILLAGERS have called for action after a 12-wheel HGV became lodged on a steep embankment while trying to negotiate a hairpin bend.

The incident caused the A666 Whalley to Blackburn Road to be closed for two and half hours.

The driver, on his way to Great Harwood from Liverpool, had travelled through York village and became stuck at a bend at Painter Wood, Billington.

The trailer ended up wedged on the embankment across from the Judge Walmesley Thai restaurant about 4pm yesterday.

It teetered on metal railings next to the main A666 road through Whalley until the fire service secured it and called a crane to lift it back into place.

Painter Wood resident and former Ribble Valley councillor Daniel Boyle said signs in York village warning lorries not to take that route needed to be bigger and more explicit.

He said: "We want action. Everyday we get lorries that are clearly too big coming down here.

"When they reach the bend most get through it with great difficulty, because the only alternative is to reverse two or three miles back up to York Village.

"Clearly this one was far too big.

"The signs warning them not to come down here say 'unsuitable for HGVs' - that's not a strong enough warning. They should warn them not to even try and they need to be bigger so drivers unfamiliar with the roads can see them."

Barbara Ainsworth, who lives yards from the scene in Pleasant View and works at Billington Band Club across the road from the bend, said: "This is not a surprise at all.

"We get lots of wagons trying to take that bend and most of them get round after a struggle but this man obviously didn't. The signs say 'unsuitable' for lorries and don't say enough."

Police closed part of the A666 between the main roundabout and the accident scene while the lorry was moved for public safety and diverted traffic using the A59.

PS Chris Johnson of Clitheroe police said: "The driver, not knowing the area, travelled through York village, got to the bend, realised there's no where to turn around and go back and tried to negotiate it.

"The trailer ended up wedged on the embankment. We closed the A666 because there was a danger of the trailer falling onto it.

"We'll be carrying out a full investigation to find out why the lorry ended up there to make sure the driver has not committed an offence."

The lorry, which was empty, belonged to Langden's Haulage of Liverpool.

Transport manager Dave Couzens said: "The driver was going to Great Harwood and did not know the roads. He saw a sign for Great Harwood and turned right and ended up here.

"We would have preferred him to reverse out or call for help rather than trying to attempt the turn. At least, nobody was hurt."