Part of the A50 had to be closed after an industrial cement mixer broke free from the truck it was being carried on and smashed into a roadside barrier.

The eastbound carriageway of the A50 was shut at 11am today, July 19 for recovery to take place.

And it took nearly four hours for the operation to be completed, with the road reopening around 1.15pm.

The metal mixer came off the lorry at 9.30am at the McDonald's roundabout in Uttoxeter.

The island was already experiencing heavier-than-usual traffic as it takes diverted vehicles heading to and from Tean on the A522, whose bridge over the A50 is closed for roadworks for 10 weeks.

Speaking this morning, a Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We were called just after 9.30am on Thursday, July 19, to reports of a lorry that had shed its load at the McDonald's roundabout, Uttoxeter.

"It was reported that some damage had been caused to the metal barrier by the roadside.

"No injuries have been sustained - the lorry driver is fine and no other vehicles were involved.

"The lorry shed a large metal item, which we believe is used for mixing cement."

A cement mixer fell off a truck on the A50 near McDonald's
A cement mixer fell off a truck on the A50 at the McDonald's roundabout

The police initially closed one lane on the eastbound carriageway. At 11am both lanes were closed.