RUSH hour traffic was brought to a standstill today after a crash on the A140.A car driver had to be cut from his vehicle after becoming trapped following the collision with a lorry at Dunston, near to Dunston Hall, in Norfolk.

RUSH hour traffic was brought to a standstill today after a crash on the A140.

A car driver had to be cut from his vehicle after becoming trapped following the collision with a lorry at Dunston, near to Dunston Hall, in Norfolk.

The collision happened at 8.20am and the driver of the car - a man in his forties - was taken by ambulance to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. The extent of his injuries was not known at time of going to press.

The lorry driver was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not need to be taken hospital.

Three fire crews were called to the scene of the crash and worked to release the trapped man.

A spokesman for Norfolk Fire Service said both cutting equipment and hydraulic rescue equipment, which prises the shell of the car apart, were used.

The road was closed by police at the junction where it joins the A47, blocking traffic heading out of Norwich.

By 8.30am, police at the scene had reported Norwich-bound traffic was queuing as far as Newton Flotman.

A police spokeswoman said it was expected the delays would be slow to clear, leaving many commuters stranded in their cars.

The A140 is notorious for the number of accidents that happen and has been the subject of an Evening Star safety campaign.

More than 80 lives have been lost on the A140 in the last 20 years.

In March this year, Suffolk County Council announced it would begin a year-long trial of a new 50mph speed limit on the Suffolk stretch of the A140 in a bid to cut accidents.

The move followed calls from road safety campaigners and was welcomed by Suffolk police.

The trial began in June but by August it was already being criticised amid fears drivers were becoming frustrated and impatient along the slower stretch.

Norfolk County Council has said it has no plans to introduce a similar speed limit and cabinet member for transport and planning Adrian Gunson has said the limit has led to an increase in inappropriate overtaking and bunching.

Campaigners for a bypass where the A140 meets the A1120 at the Stonhams were left disappointed in September when Suffolk County Council said a bypass would not meet Government safety criteria.

N What do you think should be done to make the A140 safer? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk