A bridge that was damaged when a HGV tried to cross it could be closed for up to six months and cost £200,000 to repair.

Marlow bridge has been closed since 10.30pm on Saturday after a Girteka Logistics lorry – believed to be from Lithuania - drove through traffic calming measures, blew a tyre and got stuck.

Initial inspections by Transport for Bucks revealed “overstressing on key structural parts of the bridge” including the abutment bearing and the steel hangers from the chain.

Mark Shaw, Bucks County Council cabinet member for transport, has now said it could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to repair and in a “worst case scenario” the bridge could be closed for months.

He said: “We have already started putting in insurance claims to the company the driver belongs to. Clearly it is down to them to pay, not the residents of Marlow or indeed Buckinghamshire.

“Depending on what is thrown up by our investigations, a worst case scenario is four to six months it could be closed, but I stress this is the worst case. We are hoping the damage is not going to be as bad as that.

“We wouldn’t reopen the bridge unless it was safe and secure. Any further damage could put it in a very serious condition.”

Cllr Shaw added that he was “at a loss” as to how the lorry driver managed to get through the width restrictions and said the incident was a “total one off”.

He said: “When it hit the first set of traffic calming measures it blew its tyre out. It then got stuck at the other end of the bridge and had to be towed back off the bridge by police.

“How he got through in the first place is beyond me. Lots of residents say it is very hard to enter and exit the bridge in their vehicles, let alone a HGV.”

Girteka Logistics yesterday apologised for the disruption caused, saying they were “truly ashamed.”