An overturned lorry on the A11 took eight hours to clear due to a diesel spill, damaged electrical infrastructure and a spilled load, according to police.

Drivers on the A11 were left with long delays on Tuesday after the lorry tipped on to its side at the A1075 roundabout on the A11 near Thetford.

The incident took place at 9.40am but was not cleared until after 6pm. Drivers were diverted through Thetford while the southbound lane of the A11 was closed by police.

A spokesman for Norfolk Police explained that the protracted recovery effort was due to the knock-on effects of the incident.

'The lorry could not be recovered until its load of wood chippings which had been cleared and the Highways Agency and UK Power Networks also had to be called out to deal with a diesel spill and a damaged electricity junction box respectively.

'It was therefore not possible to reopen the road until all these matters had been dealt with and the lorry was removed,' he said.