Recovery operation after overturned tanker in Weymouth causes "nightmare traffic"

The tanker, owned by Environmental Waste Management Ltd (EWM), was brand new and overturned at Bincombe Bumps roundabout, Littlemoor, at around 12.40pm yesterday.

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Witnesses said they saw the driver “climb on top of the cab” to get out of the vehicle and EWM confirmed no-one was injured.

A number of police vehicles were at the scene with the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) also in attendance.

Littlemoor Road was closed from the roundabout to the library and there was heavy traffic reported in the area, including on the relief road.

Drivers were reporting it was taking an hour to get to Dorchester because of the queues.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area while the clean-up took place - with the tanker needing to be emptied before it could be recovered.

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Dorset Police said the vehicle had been “leaking an unknown substance” and that the local authority environmental health team had been made aware.

One witness, Gary, said the smell was ‘gut wrenching’ and that traffic was "bumper to bumper - a nightmare".

He said: “When you get round the back of the vehicle it looks like the actual tank might have split and, if whatever's inside gets onto the road and onto people’s tyres then anything could have happened.”

Susan, who lives nearby, said: “No-one seems to be injured: it could have been a lot worse so thankfully no-one is hurt. I was going to leave to meet my granddaughter only to find the roads are closed so I decided to walk my dog instead.”

A spokesperson for Environmental Waste Management Ltd said: "We are aware of the incident, fortunately nobody is injured.

"We are currently investigating and working with the relevant agencies to ensure the incident is dealt with appropriately."

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.40pm to reports of an overturned tanker in Weymouth, leaking an unknown substance.

“Officers attended alongside the fire service and the local authority environmental health team have been made aware."

A spokesperson for DWFRS said: “We were called at 12.41pm after a commercial tanker overturned.

“One crew from Weymouth attended to assist with scene safety, and our stop message (the situation has been contained and no further assistance is required) was at 1.31pm.”