An investigation has been launched after a high-speed train 'jumped' off tracks at Froxfield, near Marlborough, when it hit debris knocked onto the line by a lorry which collided with a bridge.

Train services between Pewsey and Hungerford were severely disrupted after the Eddie Stobart lorry hit the bridge at Oak Hill at around 5.15pm on Sunday, February 22.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said nobody was hurt in the incident but the impact "lifted the front of the train".

Inspectors said 13 tonnes of debris fell on the rail line from the bridge.

The RAIB said the First Great Western train from London Paddington to Penzance stopped "after travelling a further 730 metres (800 yards)" and that the driver could not have avoided the collision.

Passengers were delayed by hours following the incident

"The leading power car sustained underframe damage and there was damage to the train's braking system," investigators added.

The initial report said the bridge had been struck after the lorry driver had driven down an unclassified road and realised it was too small for his lorry.

"The lorry driver stopped before the canal bridge and attempted to reverse round a bend and back over the railway bridge without assistance," the initial report said.

"[The driver] was unaware when the rear of his trailer first made contact with, and then toppled, the brick parapet on the east side of the railway bridge."

A motorist called 999 minutes before the train approached the scene.

Boat owner David Hartland, who moors near to where the incident happened, told the Gazette: ”I looked out of the window of my boat and I could see this lorry was stuck. It shouldn’t have been on the bridge but it must have been following a sat-nav.

“The bridge fell onto a track as a whole and there was another guy who was just driving past and he stopped and rang the police straight away to tell them to stop the trains.

“About five or ten minutes later the train came along and hit the bridge and then jumped off the track and landed back on it and then it jumped about a mile up the track.

“It was quite an event. All I heard was crash, bang, wallop.”

A First Great Western spokesman said after the incident: "We're very grateful that no-one was injured in what could have been a much more serious incident, and would like to thank all the passengers on board for their patience in difficult circumstances while we worked to get people moving as quickly and safely as possible.

"Full refunds have been offered to everyone on board, and we will be contacting each of them to see if there is anything further we can do to help."