The rising bollard in Falmouth town centre has struck again this morning, leaving a handyman without transport after his van became trapped.

Darren Thomas, who runs the Captain Fix It property and garden maintenance service, said he was driving over the bollard on Church Street while the light was on green when the van "stopped dead."

He said: "I started to go through and suddenly I felt it lift up, I heard a bang at the front of the vehicle and it stopped my van dead."

He added: "It's bent the back axle... and as you can see the green light's still on."

The incident means large vehicles are currently unable to access the centre of town until the van is removed, with refuse collectors having to reverse their lorry from the entrance to Church Street car park up to Killigrew Street after picking up rubbish.

Town manager Richard Gates, who was out helping to keep the traffic flowing, said Cornwall Council was responsible for clearing the obstruction.

He said: "What we (the town team) want to do is get it sorted for both the gentleman and for the traffic driving through the town."

Mr Thomas' main concern is his loss of transport, which will mean he loses work and might also be unable to fulfil a promise to a sick friend.

He said: "I have got a full week's work and I don't know how I'm going to do it. I've got a friend to take to hospital on Wednesday for cancer tests.

"I was just heading off to work, I can't even remember why I was driving through town, to be honest. I'm still a bit shook up.

"My main concern is my van's wrecked. I'm just panicking."

The incident is the second time a car has been in collision with the bollard in November, after an Audi drove over it at the start of the month.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said: "Cornwall Council is currently working with the contractor who maintains the bollard to investigate the cause of todays accident. When the investigation is complete and the error established we will be able to comment further."