THIS was the dramatic scene when a JCB excavator on a lorry became jammed under a bridge in Sittingbourne. The bridge may have to be demolished and the road beneath is likely to remain shut for about a fortnight.

The excavator was on the back of a low loader being driven by Eddie Honeysett, 35, of Chatham. He was taken to Mhspital with shock and neck injuries but left after treatment.

The accident happened in Mill Way at a unique metal bridge which used to carry narrow gauge trains into the nearby paper mill from Ridham Creek. The bridge still carries various pipes to and from the New Thames Mill at Kemsley. The low loader belongs to A M Plant Hire, of Medway City Estate, Strood.

Depot manager David Goodger said: ""We are waiting to investigate the JCB to see if the hydraulics moved which may have caused the arm to jam into the bridge. The lorry suddenly stopped and the driver was shoved into the windscreen where he banged his head."

The bridge is just yards from the terminus of the preserved Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway. Commercial director Anthony James said the incident next to its Sittingbourne Viaduct station will not affect its train service and that this weekend's (September 29 and 30) gala event will go ahead as planned.

He added: "A number of reports have intimated that the bridge is on our line but this is not the case. It used to carry our trains across Mill Way but it has not been used for almost 30 years. A special steam train service will run on both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm and we would not want those who had planned a visit to change their minds."