A MILK tanker careered across the busy A429 at Corston, near Malmesbury on Tuesday morning, hit a wall and a stone pillar before coming to rest in the flowerbed of a bungalow yards from the village hall.

It was the second serious accident in the village this year. In February a Tesco lorry crashed into a bridge near the hall and two petrol tankers collided at the scene. The risk of an explosion prompted police to evacuate nearby homes.

In May this year, a driver lost control of his car near the same bridge and crashed into a ditch.

Parish councillor Daphne Jones, 75, said it was miraculous that no other vehicles or pedestrians were involved in the latest crash. The parish council is meeting tonight to discuss safety on the road.

Mrs Jones said the hall wall and a stone pillar were badly damaged in this week's crash. "The pillar is now listing at an angle," she said.

"There are functions planned for the coming weeks, including a carol concert. It will now be a priority to make sure that visitors can use the hall in safety."

The driver of the tanker owned by Dairycrest of Wincanton, was not injured. It is believed there was a fault on the rear axle.