Charge over harvester on Road Bridge

A MAN has been charged after damaging the Forth Road Bridge when he drove a combine harvester across without permission.

The unauthorised heavy vehicle caused the damage as it attempted to cross the bridge at about 2:45am yesterday.

The 28-year-old driver has been charged with road traffic offences after passing signs which requested abnormal loads wait to be escorted across.

The vehicle, which was being carried on a trailer, struck steel grills at the side of the bridge and forced a temporary closure of the southbound lane.

Emergency repairs were finished by 7:30am but it took a while to clear the morning rush hour backlog.