TRAIN services along the Lakes Line were experiencing delays and cancellations this afternoon after a lorry collided with a railway bridge.

The accident happened when a HGV Scania struck the underside of the railway bridge spanning Burneside Road in Kendal.

The male driver of the vehicle, belonging to haulage firm, Bird’s Groupage Limited, was said to be unhurt.

Police attended the scene and traffic was moving freely after the lorry was eventually reversed from under the 14ft nine inch bridge.

Passerby Andrew Stuart was on the scene and said he saw the driver  'holding his head in his hands' after the accident.

"The lorry was the only vehicle involved and the driver was not hurt,"  said Mr Stuart.

As a precautionary measure, train services running in both directions and involving stations at Windermere, Staveley, Burneside, Kendal and Oxenholme were subject to delays.

At least one service to Oxenholme was cancelled and it is likely structural checks will be made to the bridge before services can fully resume.

Delays are expected of up to 20 minutes and are expected to continue unti approximately 3.45pm.

Northern Rail and First Transpennine Express run services along the route from the West Coast Mainline at Oxenholme.

To find out if trains are delayed, call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Twitter users can also use the hashtag #kendal to find out service updates.