A7 closed at Longtown after vehicle crashes into bridge

The A7 remains closed in both directions at Longtown after a crash damaged the town's main bridge.

It's reported to have happened in the early hours of Thursday morning. Part of Longtown Bridge's arch was knocked into the River Esk below.

Drivers are being diverted and bus services have also been seriously disrupted, with Stage Coach announcing on Twitter that they will be running a shuttle from Carlisle.

Cumbria County Council engineers say they aim to make the structure safe so smaller vehicles can pass, but HGVs will still have to divert via the M6.

It's expected to be open Saturday afternoon.

The same bridge in the town had to be shut on safety grounds after the road collapsed in September 2019.