Locals praised for directing traffic after major A35 crash

People took it upon themselves to help drivers negotiate gridlocked narrow west Dorset country lanes while the main road was closed after a crash at Eype on Saturday.

Two men who stopped to help to direct motorists into a nearby field to enable tractors to pass have been praised for their efforts, along with a man who stopped in Dottery to make sure drivers didn't get stuck.

The crash between a car and a lorry caused significant congestion for almost the entire day.

The eastbound route was closed for hours so the vehicles could be recovered, with traffic redirected through Bridport town centre and country roads, spreading the congestion.

Nobody was injured in the crash, though ambulance, fire and even an air ambulance were called to the scene, just in case.

The lorry on its side (Image: Supplied)

Suzi Hall, of Poole, was travelling from Lyme Regis to Bridport when she encountered the closure.

She then followed an alternative sat-nav route, turning off into Tizards Knap near Morcombelake.

Suzi said: "We quickly met oncoming traffic and it was soon clear that this road was going to be too narrow to accommodate the volume of redirected traffic.

"We could not turn around, as several cars had followed behind us, so the only option that remained was to try and get through and hope the road widened later - which it did not.

"We struggled through until hitting a long queue of traffic on the same long single-track road, just outside of Dottery. At this point, two large tractors were attempting to come down the other way.

"If it were not for the efforts of a couple of local gents, who got out of their cars to direct traffic to reverse backwards into a nearby field to help the tractors through, then I think we would all still be there.

"One of them was wearing a distinctive 'Top Dad' t-shirt, and he truly saved the day.

"Thanks are also due to another man, who stood right at the top of the road in Dottery, to prevent further traffic from entering that narrow pass and getting stuck.

"Lessons have been learned to not rely on the sat nav to redirect in rural spots, and a huge thank you is due to the local community for their support in getting everyone through a tricky situation.

"Thank you to all local people for your kindness, patience and assistance in getting everyone, plus two tractors, through during that traffic misery on Saturday."

Queues of traffic in Higher Eype (Image: Alex Wickens)

During the closure, traffic tailed back as far as Morcombelake.

The route was not re-opened until around 3pm, which is around four hours and 30 minutes after the crash was reported to police, and it took even longer for traffic to return to normal.