This was the scene after a lorry crashed into a tree and a telegraph pole. The incident happened on the A35 at Raymonds Hill, just over the border in Devon, which was closed on Monday morning after the crash,

Fire and rescue crews from Devon and Somerset were called to the scene at 7.05am after reports of a vehicle on fire following the crash. However, on arrival crews from Axminster and Charmouth found the vehicle was not on fire but had crashed into a telegraph pole and a tree.

Images taken at the scene show significant damage to the vehicle, which appears to be a truck. The telegraph pole has been completely knocked over and the vehicle has crashed nose first into a tree.

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Axminster Fire Station revealed in a Facebook post that the driver had managed to get out of the vehicle and was given first aid by paramedics at a nearby site. Crews then began to secure the vehicle by disconnecting the battery and alerted British Telecoms to a “completely destroyed” telegraph pole.

The A35 was closed for some time during the recovery operation. Traffic monitor Inrix reports that the road is closed eastbound, with traffic building up in the area: “A35 Charmouth Road closed eastbound, traffic in queue due to accident from B3165 Crewkerne Road to Green Lane,” Devon Live reports.

Axminster Fire Station reported: “While this was taking place, traffic management crews had set up to keep one lane of the A35 open. Once police arrived and took over traffic management duties, our crew completed a handover form and left the scene with police requesting highway clearance and vehicle recovery.”

“We expect there to be delays on the A35 throughout the day and we thank you all for your patience as we deal with this incident.”

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the lorry driver involved in the crash suffered minor injuries, saying: “Police were called at 6.50am today, 8th July, to a single vehicle collision on the A35 Raymonds Hill. A lorry had collided with a telephone pole.”

“Ambulance and fire services attended the scene. The male driver sustained minor injuries. The road was partially open but is now completely closed between Charmouth roundabout and The Hunters Lodge Inn on Raymonds Hill while the vehicle is recovered. BT is on scene repairing the damaged telephone pole.”