A STUDY into traffic problems on a well-known hill has started.

Police figures show that, on average, there is an incident involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on Sutton Bank, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, every other day.

The narrowness of the road and its steep 1-in-4 gradient mean lorry breakdowns cause major delays as police shut the road to remove the obstruction.

To solve the problem, North Yorkshire County Council has joined forces with North Yorkshire Police and transport associations to carry out a study.

Councillor Peter Sowray, the county council's executive member for environmental services, said: "Incidents involving HGVs on Sutton Bank include breakdown, insecure loads and diesel spills.

"The results of the survey should help identify the issues that contribute to breakdowns on the bank, and help us assess a range of potential measures, including more effective signing to inform drivers of the potential difficulties and how best to negotiate the bank."

The hill on the A170, which has a hairpin bend, is popular with people visiting the North York Moors and east coast.

The Sutton Bank Freight Quality Partnership, which includes the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association, has already carried out tests when the bank was closed for routine maintenance.

Lorries were driven up with different loads and using different road surfaces.

The results of the exercise, carried out by Faber Maunsel Consulting Engineers, will be passed on to hauliers.

A spokesman for the Freight Transport Association said: "It is imperative that all parties work together in order to reduce the number of incidents involving goods vehicles, such as breakdowns and diesel spills.

"The Freight Transport Association and its members are keen to reduce traffic delays wherever possible on the county's roads, so we aim to look at a range of solutions including improved signage and information, together with better management of incidents on the roads."