Two refuse workers had to scramble to safety when their lorry toppled into a canal in a Staffordshire village.

Both men escaped unharmed, as the lorry slid on to its side and was partly submerged. The drama happened in Ivy Court, Acton Trussell, at about 2.30pm yesterday.

The lorry from contractors, who collect recyclable material for South Staffordshire Counci,l was going along the road alongside the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal when a section of bank gave way and the vehicle went into the canal, narrowly missing a boat.

Eye witness Jo Felton, who lives on the opposite side of the canal, said: “I was in my house and heard a noise. I looked out to see the lorry going into the water.

“The driver got out first and shouted to me to ask if his mate had got out. I shouted no and he went back into pull him out of the cab.”

Mrs Felton added that the lorry had narrowly missed her narrowboat which was moored opposite.

She said: “It blocked the canal.”

Another neighbour Linda Wyatt was in her back garden when she heard the noise.

She said: “I saw the lorry on its side in the canal. It is not the first time a vehicle has gone in the water here.”

Diesel from the lorry leaked into the canal and Penkridge firefighters used pads to soak up the fuel.

Glass bottles, newspapers and plastic waste were also thrown into the canal in the incident.

A recovery firm called out to try and pull the lorry out was unable to get it free and a crane was to be brought in today to lift it out.

South Staffordshire District Council spokesman Jamie Angus said the council was still looking into the circumstances of the accident.