TWO workers had a lucky escape when a lorry hit the van which was shielding them from traffic while they were strimming a verge alongside the M4.

One of the men carrying out work on the grassbank at lunchtime on Monday was taken to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon suffering from shock.

Swindon traffic police said the accident, on the westbound carriageway between junctions 17 and 18, happened when the lorry clipped the offside corner of a "cushion" truck, which displays signs to warn traffic that work is underway.

The lorry, which was carrying toilet rolls, then collided with the back of the transit van alongside the two men. The transit driver was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Two lanes and the hard shoulder were blocked for more than three hours while the overturned lorry was moved out the way and long tailbacks lasted into the evening.