MORNING rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill on Monday as police escorted an abnormally wide load from Westbury to the M4 at Chippenham.

Roads in Wiltshire were jammed as the load made its way along the A350 with a police escort.

The load was the first of several taking roof structures from a Westbury fabrication firm to a building site near Tower Bridge in London. Three others will follow later this month and in August.

The transporter lorry was so wide it had to be driven down the middle of the road, with traffic moved to the sides to allow the transporter through, causing heavy congestion on the A350 and on side roads as drivers sought alternative routes.

Pc Dave Cooper, of Westbury police, said: "There was less congestion than we expected and we were pleased with how it went.

"Something like this is going to cause massive congestion whenever we do it. We cannot move these loads at night because it is just too dangerous."

The convoy began its journey at 7.15am from Brook Lane industrial estate in Westbury and reached the M4 by 8.45am, where it was handed over to another team of police to be escorted along the motorway.