TRAFFIC ground to a halt on the A13 yesterday afternoon after a crane working on a bridge nearly fell on to it.

Contractors were drilling near the junction of The Manorway at Stanford-le-Hope to put rods in to strengthen the bridge when the machinery was blown towards the bridge and landed on one of the vehicles.

Traffic was affected across south Essex as far as Sadlers Farm with long tailbacks after Essex Police closed part of the a13 in both directions.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “At 1.20pm we had reports of a crane leaning towards a bridge at the junction of the A13 and A1014 No traffic was allowed under the bridge and there was traffic chaos in both directions.”