A HUGE lorry smashed into the front of two garden walls in an early morning crash.

The accident, which happened just after 5am yesterday morning in Butt Road, Colchester, came after a collision between the lorry and a van.

The HGV then jack-knifed and went into two garden walls.

There was no major damage to either of the two houses and fortunately no-one was hurt.

However, police shut the road while engineers from Essex Highways worked to make the road safe and move the vehicles away.

Homeowner Holly Smart’s house was on of those which the lorry crashed into.

She heard police knocking on her door shortly before 6.30am.

READ MORE: Lorry crashes into Colchester homes causing traffic chaos

“My first reaction when they told me what had happened was to ask whether anyone was hurt,” she said.

“Fortunately they told me everyone was OK which is absolutely the main thing.

“As well as that everyone is insured so it is just a case of making all the calls and doing the paperwork with it.”

Halstead Gazette:

Miss Smart said she had no idea about the crash until the police told her.

She added: “My attitude is usually as long as everybody is safe then everything else takes care of itself.

“The first I knew about was when the police told me - I did hear a bang but didn’t think too much of it at first.”

Miss Smart’s front door was still accessible after the smash but rubble was piled onto the entrance of the other property involved.

Thick red dust could also be seen along the road and the pavement following the clean up operation.

The busy road was shut close to the entrance of the Butt Road car park with motorists heading towards the town centre forced to turn around and find alternative routes.

Other streets were busier than usual as a result of the disruption which went into rush hour.

But police and road safety experts said it was safe shortly before 8.30am and the road was back open as usual.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed no-one had been hurt in the crash, nor arrested and they attended to ensure the scene was safe.

“We were contacted at just after 5.30am following a collision in Butt Road, Colchester, between a lorry and a van,” the spokesman said.

“Officers attended the scene and closed the road as the lorry had jack-knifed, blocking the road.”

“He added: No-one was injured. The road was reopened at 8.30am after the vehicle was recovered.”