AN OVERTURNED lorry came precariously close to plunging off a Bradford roundabout onto the carriageway below.

The spectacular smash caused several hours of traffic chaos across south Bradford this afternoon.

The incident happened on the notoriously-busy Dudley Hill roundabout, where a number of the city’s major roads converge.

A spilled load from the truck showered the A650 Wakefield Road below with a large quantity of rubble, forcing the closure of that route too.

A number of emergency services were scrambled to the scene, but indications suggested it had been a “damage-only” crash, with no serious injuries reported.

Despite the efforts of police to direct traffic, the incident brought gridlock to adjoining routes.

Public transport was also heavily affected as frustrated passengers struggled to get home due to the disruption.

First West Yorkshire bus services serving the Holme Wood estate and Tong Street had to be diverted via Bowling Back Lane and Sticker Lane.

Later, recovery trucks from Stonewood Motors were brought in to help with the large-scale recovery operation. Images emerged of cutting work taking place as workers tried to free the lorry from the barriers.

Throughout the afternoon, readers got in touch with the T&A to relay their travel misery.

One woman, who faced an agonising delay of over an hour and a half, said: “It’s been horrific.”

Speaking just after 6.30pm, she said: “I have just got home. Police closed Rooley Lane just before The Cross Keys pub and police were diverting all traffic down past the museum.

“There should be police at the roundabout by Asda to give people notice and chance to change direction.

“Drivers coming out of Asda have no idea what’s happened let alone managing to get out. More accidents waiting to happen.”

She said it had been “total gridlock”.

Motorists took to social media to warn each other of the worst areas, with one saying: “Burnham Avenue is also very busy.”

Another warned: “Avoid bowling hall rd - can’t turn left top of bowling. Traffic coming up bowling hall rd getting stuck turning round road. Traffic on rooley turn left onto bowling hall rd getting stuck police there.”

Other observers were more preoccupied by the accident itself – expressing their astonishment at the scene of devastation.

One said: “How does that even happen?”

But one motorist made the most of the situation and joked: “At least I got a Starbucks !!!”