Major south Essex road closed off after lorry ‘sheers off’ large branch

Bread and Cheese Hill, on the A13 London Road in Benfleet, is closed this afternoon after the incident this morning. Essex Highways was able to clear the scene quickly with the help of a resident with a "hefty chainsaw". However, the road may still be closed up until rush hour as specialist tree surgeons are on their way to determine if another branch over the road is safe.

Andrew Sheldon, councillor for South Benfleet on Essex County Council, said: "Thank you to the residents who let me know about this. "A lorry hit a large branch at over the road and sheered it off. The highways team were able to clear it quickly with the help of a local resident with a hefty chainsaw!

"However where the branch has sheered off it has weakened the support for another large branch that covers the road. "A specialist tree surgeon team are on their way to determine if it is safe and if not to take down the other large branch. They should be here in 30mins.

Depending on what they say I should be able to update residents on the likely road opening time.

"I am determined that Bread and Cheese Hill will be open by rush-hour but I cannot give a guarantee.

"Please continue to use alternative routes in the meantime."