TRAFFIC was slowed to a crawl in parts of Maidstone today after lorry shed its plasterboard load across the carriageway just before the morning rush-hour.

The boards came free at around 6.30am, falling across one carriageway at the junction of Upper Stone Street and Sheals Crescent.

Police officers and Maidstone Borough Council staff were called out to help with the situation.

The plasterboard eventually had to be moved by hand as the JCB brought in to assist caused the boards to crumble. Traffic continued to flow throughout the morning, but commuters were delayed as they tried to get past the lorry and scattered boards.

Spokeswoman for Maidstone and Malling Police Gianna Pollero said: "There were no massive problems reported. There were delays but it wasn’t awful.

"It was mainly in one lane, so the traffic continued to flow through the other one."

The road was clear by 8.50am and nobody was hurt in the incident.