The mayhem at the Glenamoy junction in north Mayo this morning is continuing.

Shell was transporting its tunnel boring machine, a large drilling apparatus, by road, this morning from Sligo to its site in Erris and it was escorted by gardai and private security, when one lorry of  the convoy  got  stuck at the Glenamoy junction at about 8am.

The road is impassable as a result,however, gardai are not confirming this situation.

At 5 past 11 this morning Shell issued a short statement that confirmed the intersection at Glenamoy is blocked saying a large truck carrying part of the tunnel boring machine for the onshore pipeline element of the Corrib gas project has had difficulty negotiating the turn close to Glenamoy bridge.

The company concludes saying the situation is being assessed and there will be an update when further information becomes available.

In the meantime the road blockage is causing severe access problems for local people. Many have been significantly delayed en route this morning and are others have been forced to take alternative routes.

The lorry that is stuck at Glenamoy is said to be 160 tonne in weight and is in major difficulty on a road that is built on bog.