TRAFFIC came to a standstill after part of the A35 near Bridport was closed following a three-vehicle crash at Chideock.

Debris was left strewn across the road after an articulated lorry, a mobile home and a car collided in the village.

Motorists faced gridlock for hours as they were diverted while police and firefighters cleared the scene.

The smash brought back unwelcome memories of past horror crashes in Chideock for villagers.

One shocked business owner said it was lucky that nobody was killed in yesterday’s carnage.

Emergency services personnel were called to the scene following reports of a ‘massive crash’ shortly before 9.50am.

A white Fiat motor caravan, a blue Toyota and a silver Scania articulated lorry were involved in the collision.

Police said the motor caravan, registered to a London man, was ‘virtually destroyed’ by the impact.

The air ambulance was alerted and a man and a woman who were travelling in the mobile home were treated for minor injuries.

They were later taken to hospital but a Dorset Police spokesman said they were not seriously hurt.

Officers closed the A35 through Chideock and drivers were diverted, causing heavy queues and long delays.

Inspector Ernie Henley, of Dorset Police’s traffic unit, said: “Closure of the A35 again caused considerable and unavoidable congestion.

“I would like to thank the motoring public and local residents for their patience.”

Helen Long, landlady at the nearby Clock House Inn, said the ‘gridlock’ following the crash left it nearly impossible to leave West Dorset.

“One of my friends had been to Morcombelake and was trying to get to Reading for a funeral but just couldn’t,” she said.

“Coaches and buses were trying to turn in Whitchurch, which just wasn’t going to happen. The roads around here weren’t built for it. Plus I think people’s sat-navs were sending even more traffic that way.

“But the main thing was everybody was okay. The air ambulance treated a couple of people but I think they were walking wounded.”

The blue Toyota, registered to a Bridport man, and the articulated lorry, registered to a Shropshire firm, were recovered and the road was reopened by 12 noon.

Sue Kelson, from the Rose Cottage in Main Street, Chideock, said: “It’s lucky that nobody died. The road is dangerous.”