This is the moment a lorry got stuck in a narrow lane near Ledbury and had to reverse back out, causing damage to trees along the way.

Residents have been campaigning for the one-way lane, which connects the B4220 and Chockbury Lane in Cradley, to be closed to vehicles and say it’s a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

The Next delivery lorry attempted to get down the lane on Wednesday, April 26, prompting calls for the road to be closed sooner rather than later.

Eyewitness Patricia McCulloch said: “The driver and his passenger came down the lane the wrong way, ignoring the one-way sign at the top.

“It is a long lane and it almost got to the end, crashing into oak trees on the way. The top of the high vehicle also crashed into my neighbour's tree, taking off huge branches.

“When the driver realised he couldn’t get any further he then reversed all the way back to the lane, which was an extremely dangerous manoeuvre as he couldn’t see behind him.

Hereford Times: The lorry snapped off tree branches as it made its way along the laneThe lorry snapped off tree branches as it made its way along the lane

“A lot of dog walkers and elderly people use the lane and could quite well have been behind the vehicle. What makes it worse is that the lane has an incline so it would have been impossible to reach the top before the reversing vehicle. The consequences don't bear thinking about.”

She said for months, overgrown foliage had deterred the majority of drivers from using the lane but a recent cut of the hedges had seen more large vehicles attempting it.

'Very dangerous for walkers and horse riders'

Councillor Wynne Harries, temporary chairman of Cradley & Storridge Parish Council, said the council has already taken the decision to fund the closure of the road.

“The TRO [traffic regulation order] process is now being processed by Herefordshire Council under their statutory procedures,” he said.

“The council is aware that many residents have witnessed near misses, principally due to irresponsible drivers driving the wrong way down this one-way road.

Hereford Times: Residents say the lorry caused a lot of damage to trees along the laneResidents say the lorry caused a lot of damage to trees along the lane

“It is also very dangerous for walkers and horse riders, even with vehicles travelling in the correct direction, due to the narrow carriageway.

“The parish council sincerely hopes that Herefordshire Council will proceed with the closure as soon as possible, before any people or horses are injured. The plan is to make this section of the lane a bridleway and closed to motorised vehicles.”

We have reached out to Next for comment.