A blundering lorry driver caused traffic chaos yesterday after getting his vehicle wedged under a bridge.

The red-faced motorist drove his 15ft-high lorry under the 12ft-max- imum clearance bridge yesterday afternoon.

The incident forced police to close South Road in Brighton in both directions for more than an hour-and-a-half. Traffic built up in the nearby roads around rush hour leaving many workers with extended journeys home.

Members of the public told how the driver approached the railway bridge at around 4.30pm yesterday.

He is said to have missed the sign warning of a 12ft maximum clearance.

Seconds later he found himself wedged under the bridge – block- ing the busy road.

He reportedly tried to reverse out of trouble but managed to break down in the process.

Argus photographer Terry Applin was at the scene. He said: “It looked like he managed to get out but then broke down.

“He probably burnt the clutch out. The door was open but there was no sign of him.”

Police closed the road with the giant blue Wickes lorry blocking the busy road.

The South Road was cordoned off up to Dyke Road to the east and all the way up The Drove to the west.

As a result there were heavy queues around the area including in Old Steine and Dyke Road.