TRAFFIC around the Transfer Bridges came to a standstill after a waste disposal lorry toppled on its side during the morning rush hour.

The incident happened at the junction of Ocotal Way and Station Road shortly before 9am yesterday.

It involved a Swindon Commercial Services refuse lorry, collecting household rubbish on behalf of Swindon Council.

The overturned truck blocked County Road, sparking traffic chaos which stretched into the early afternoon, causing hold ups as far back as the town centre.

Drivers who witnessed the incident dialled 999 and a Great Western Ambulance Service response car and an ambulance arrived on the scene within five minutes.

Binmen working alongside the lorry were not injured.

A spokesman for GWAS said: “We received several reports of a lorry overturned and three potential patients in need of medical assistance.

“A response vehicle was sent to the scene followed by a back up ambulance. Three people were assessed by paramedics but fortunately none were in need of hospital treatment.”

Wiltshire Police made the scene safe and redirected traffic until recovery workers arrived just before midday to move the vehicle. Council officials also arrived to assess the scene.

The road was fully open to traffic by 1pm.

The accident happened just a day after a similar incident in Dorcan.

A blue and white Mercedes articulated lorry from Herefordshire was travelling round the bend on Edison Road at 7.09am on Tuesday when the driver lost control and the vehicle flipped onto its side.

The driver was trapped in the cab by his legs and hit his head on the driver’s side window. He was taken to Great Western Hospital as a precaution but was not thought to be seriously injured.

Swindon Council said it was investigating the incident.