TWO motorists had a lucky escape today at an accident blackspot when their vehicles collided as they travelled in opposite directions along the main route between Shotley and Ipswich.

TWO motorists had a lucky escape today at an accident blackspot when their vehicles collided as they travelled in opposite directions along the main route between Shotley and Ipswich.

Emergency services were called to the B1456 at Shotley, near to the Boot public house, shortly after 7am.

A silver Toyota Aventis heading into Shotley and a 4x4 Mitsubishi pick-up truck driving toward Ipswich had been in collision and left the entire carriageway blocked.

The Mitsubishi was left lying on its side across the road as a result of the impact while the Toyota had spun into a bank. Its rear offside had been severely damaged.

Two ambulances were called to the scene and took the drivers to Ipswich Hospital. It is believed they both had minor injuries.

In the meantime traffic had to be diverted through Harkstead as the road was impassable.

Recovery vehicles were on the scene to remove the car and pick-up shortly before 9am and the road was expected to be completely clear soon afterwards.

Today's accident happened at a notorious accident black spot, frequently the scene of collisions, some serious.

There are frequent collisions on the stretch of road near the Boot and many people in the village have campaigned for safety measures to be put in place.

In June 2000 Christopher Shepherd, of Old Hall Road, Shotley was riding his motorbike to work when he was in collision with a tanker. He was left paralysed as a result of a fractured spine and spent months in hospital.

And in March last year 19-year-old John Bateman died when his car was in collision with a coach on the stretch of road between Shotley and Chelmondiston.