THE A377 was closed for more than seven hours at the Fox and Hounds, Eggesford, when a lorry became stuck in a precarious position on Friday, July 17.

The vehicle was travelling along the road towards Chulmleigh when it pulled onto the grass verge to allow an oncoming hgv to pass.

The lorry was unable to get off the verge and as its wheels sunk into the verge it became in danger of toppling 25ft into the grounds of the Fox and Hounds Hotel.

Fire crews, including a local crew from Chulmleigh, cordoned off the area while the police and Devon County Council highways department put diversions in place and closed the A377 in both directions.

The vehicle was also tethered to prevent it falling. A Fire Service special operations team was called in to stabilise the lorry.

It was feared that the vehicle could land on or close to a car parked nearby.

A crane was brought from Barnstaple to assist with the recovery of the vehicle to assist a recovery truck.

The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

There is no safety barrier along the stretch of road where the drop into the grounds of the Fox and Hounds Hotel runs for several hundred yards.

Alan Quick