Sat-nav lorry rescued from lane

The rescue took place throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

A lorry which became stuck in a narrow lane after following satellite navigation instructions has been freed.

The 44-tonne truck, carrying timber from north Wales to Birmingham, was jammed for three days in the lane near farm land at Halton, near Wrexham.

The recovery firm described the rescue operation as "painstaking", saying the lack of a firm surface on the road meant the vehicle kept slipping back.

The track had a sign saying it was unfit for heavy goods vehicles.

The lorry's owner, Maxi Haulage of Ayrshire, said it did not fit sat-nav in its vehicles and that the driver had used his own.

Lawrence Griffiths from the recovery firm L&D Brothers in Wrexham said: "There was no tarmac on the road and the road kept giving way.

"Every five foot we gained, we'd start from scratch again where the vehicle would move sideways.

"And then we'd have to block it, chock it, move it, find some solid ground and just carry on."

Winch

The rescue team used trees as anchor points

It took the company from Wednesday until 1600 GMT on Friday to pull the lorry approximately 50 yards up a hill to level ground.

The removers had to use several trees as anchor points to winch the lorry inch by inch.

Local farmer Margaret Evans said the track where the 45ft (13m) truck was trapped was suitable only for tractors.

Mrs Evans said the blockage meant she had had to take a two-mile diversion to head towards one part of her land.

Two other lorries had used the lane days before this one became trapped despite the warning sign, she added.