A main route into a Cumbrian village has been closed after a HGV struck a bridge.

Whitriggs Bridge, at Seascale, was made the subject of an emergency closure following the 7am crash yesterday (Tuesday), when a delivery lorry carrying low-level nuclear waste hit a wall at the entrance to the bridge on Drigg Road.

Engineers are assessing the condition of the railway bridge, ahead of repair work starting and all traffic and pedestrians are banned from a 50m zone either side of the bridge.

A 21-day closure notice has been imposed by Cumbria County Council "because of the likelihood of danger to the public as a result of the dangerous condition of the bridge parapet".

However a spokesman told the News & Star that it is hoped work to repair the bridge could be completed within seven days.

He said: "The road is closed to both vehicles and pedestrians but the bridge is still being used by trains. Sellafield has been informed."

The lorry had been driven from Winfrith nuclear site in Dorset and was bound for the Low-Level Waste Respository (LLWR), near Drigg. It contained a number of drums of waste heading for disposal.

A spokesman for the LLWR said: "Police attended the scene and a routine, reassurance monitoring confirmed the container was not breached.

"The driver had missed his turning into the LLWR site and was attempting to turn his vehicle when he damaged the parapet.

"The waste originates from several facilities around the UK. It comprises mostly of small pieces of plastic and wood debris."

There was a brief delay to rail services, although they resumed later in the day.

The bridge is the only route into Seascale in a southbound direction and leaves Gosforth Road as the only road into the village.