TRAFFIC chaos returned to the streets of Bradford on Avon when a 15ft-high lorry hauled down electricity and phone cables in a potentially lethal accident.

Live cables fell to the ground in Trowbridge Road and nearby St Laurence Road as the articulated lorry passed through the town on Thursday at 4pm.

The driver of the lorry, who stopped at the scene, could face criminal charges after illegally crossing the Town Bridge despite being over the legal weight limit.

Councillors and police officers say lorry drivers are blatantly ignoring the weight limit placed on the historic bridge, which puts pedestrians in the town at risk.

Police sealed off the road for several hours while Southern Electric Board and BT engineers repaired the damage. One home was without power for three hours.

A diversion was set up taking traffic around the estates and via Frome Road.

Investigating officer PC Gary Jones said charges against the driver were being considered.

He said: "The vehicle was too big and heavy to go over the Town Bridge in the first place. The accident caused hours of disruption.

"It isn't rare for lorries of this size to go over the bridge and break the law.

"It was lucky no-one was standing underneath the wires when they fell."

Dennis Kirby, spokesman for the SEB, said an investigation had been launched to find out how the cables could have been brought down.

He said: "It is unusual for a service cable to one house to be brought down.

"We have engineers out checking the height of cables regularly. The minimum height is usually around 17 to 18 feet."

Town and Wiltshire county councillor Malcolm Hewson said although the risk of damage to the bridge was minimal, the environmental impact of lorries breaking the law was frightening.

He said: "I think it is up to us all to report lorries that are using the bridge when they are not supposed to. It happens far more at night when people believe they can get away with it."