A LORRY and a car transporter were involved in a serious crash on the A1 in North Yorkshire on Tuesday morning.

Lorry driver confirmed dead in A1M crash

The lorry and car transporter burst into flames following the accident at 7am, forcing police to shut the northbound carriageway between junction 50 (Baldersby) and junction 51 (Leeming Bar).

The road was later closed from junction 49 to enable lorries and traffic trapped behind the accident scene to be safely led away.

The road was closed for much of the day but has now reopened.

A diversion was put in place via junction 49 and motorists for the North-East were advised to use the A168, A19.

Highways England and the emergency services safely led away vehicles that were 'trapped' on the road behind the accident site.

Heavy traffic built up on the A19 northbound in the Yarm and Crathorne areas as rush hour motoritsts attempted to bypass the accident scene.

Congestion also built on the A167 northbound between Northallerton and Darlington and some overnight roadworks have been taking place in the local area.

One nearby resident said: “The police had stopped traffic coming north, diverting vehicles onto the A168 at Dishforth for traffic going to Teesside and the North-East and on the side road of the A1 near Ripon, but many, many vehicles were stuck in the tailback between the two.”