Mr Thompson, of Lincolnshire Highways Department, is in town today discussing the problem of bridge strikes with officials from Network Rail.

He had already been shown the bridges at Harlaxton Road and Barrowby Road when a lorry struck the Springfield Road bridge while he watched.

The lorry was travelling towards the junction with London Road and Bridge End Road.

Mr Thompson said: "We thought, 'this looks as though it could be close'. And it was.

"He hit the far side, cleared the bit in the middle and hit it again on the way out."

The lorry driver was Spanish and spoke little or no English. The lorry was from a Spanish haulage company called 'Frio Alicante Transportes Internacionales'.

Mr Thompson was in discussion with Network Rail in the hope of finding a way to cut the number of bridge strikes.

He said: "We are looking at the three bridges and looking at what might be achieved to lessen the likelihood of bridge strikes such as signage.

"If the new relief road is built then we can put a lorry ban on the town. We are talking that through with Network Rail."

The Journal has launched the It's a Low Bridge Stoopid! campaign to stop bridge strikes in the town.

Grantham has three of the top ten most hit bridges in the country.

All three bridges are maintained by Network Rail, and hits cause frequent delays to trains on the East Coast Mainline.

Have you seen a bridge strike? Send us your photos: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk