A LORRY burst its tyre and cracked its axle on a bollard early today as it tried to navigate around Harmer Street in Gravesend.

The inident, which happened at about 6.50am, brought morning traffic to a standstill at an area fast becoming known as an accident blackspot.

Traffic travelling along West Street and Crooked Lane was diverted the "wrong way" up Queen Street while contractors working for Kent County Council drilled around the bell-shaped bollard.

A JCB digger then had to be called to lift the heavy metal structure from the ground.

Police later closed Cooked Lane by Blockbuster forcing traffic up Princess Street and through the town. This caused a gridlock for several hours.

The lorry was eventually towed from the scene at 11.30am allowing traffic to use the roads as normal.