RUSH hour traffic in Devizes was brought to a standstill when a lorry shed ten tonnes of cardboard.

The cardboard was strewn across the pavement and half of the carriageway in Northgate Street by the Wadworth Brewery roundabout.

PC Jerry Horroll of Devizes police said: "It was fortunate that nobody was walking by when the lorry shed its load."

The Bristol-bound lorry, which had curtain sides, shed part of its load while turning right from New Park Street into Northgate Street.

It caused a hold up in particular for motorists travelling from the Chippenham and Trowbridge directions. One driver said he was held up for 30 minutes.

The incident happened at about 7.15am on Monday and was cleared by 11am.

Kennet District Council staff helped to remove the cardboard by using a tractor unit.

Following the incident the lorry driver, who works for the Westbury-based Rygor group, has been reported for having an insecure load.