Lorry stuck after crashing into tree

A lorry crashed into low-hanging branches from a historic oak tree and became wedged underneath as it trundled through a park in the Black Country today.

The top of the wagon was badly damaged and tree surgeons were called in to cut away branches in a bid to help free the vehicle in Stourbridge this morning.

The lorry had been travelling along a path in the town's Mary Stevens Park at around 9am when it became stuck.

Onlookers said the male driver was unhurt and had climbed out of the cab almost immediately.

Neil Griffiths, station commander at Oldbury Fire Station, was playing in the park with his eight-year-old twin daughters on his day off. "The lorry was going along the path, only about 20mph," he said. "The branches were hanging really low and it went straight into them.

"There was a loud bang, shaking the lorry, and a scraping sound and we realised it was stuck as the driver couldn't get it to go forward or backwards.

"Really big branches were resting on the top which were trapping it," said Mr Griffiths. It is thought the lorry had been allowed into the park to pick up items left over from the Love Stourbridge fun day event on Saturday.

Ward councillor for Norton Mike Attwood said the tree was the "historic icon" of the park and housed protected species of bats. The lorry was moved from its wedged position shortly after 11.15am.