A DRIVER was seriously injured after his lorry was left hanging over a 20ft embankment for more than three hours.

The 24-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, had to be cut free from his articulated truck after it came to rest on an embankment near to Glasgow Airport.

He was eventually freed by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's specialist surgical team shortly before 2.30pm yesterday, and rushed to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

An investigation is now under way into the cause of the crash, which happened at 9.45am on the A726, at the Barnsford Road bridge, which crosses the River Cart.

Police said they believed only one vehicle was involved, but appealed to any witnesses to come forward.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "We received a report of an overturned lorry on the A726 in Erskine. Police officers, the fire brigade and ambulance service all attended the scene. The driver of the vehicle was rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital."

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: "Crews worked to stabilise the lorry, and began the process of extricating the driver using cutting equipment."

The road was closed for several hours during the operation.