SHEEP farmers say they are becoming increasingly worried about the safety of their flocks on the road between Bilsdale and Helmsley.

Now police and North Yorkshire County Council highway chiefs are taking action to curb the volume of heavy lorries, members of Helmsley Town Council were told.

Coun Jane Barker the problems involved large Dutch and Italian freight lorries and motorcycles, heading from Teesside, and there were growing fears for road safety at the junction to Rievaulx.

The biggest problem came when farmers tried to move sheep from fields along the road, she said.

At a recent meeting to discuss the issue, it was revealed that motorcyclists had "scrambled" their number plates to avoid detection, said Coun Barker.

Signs warning of speed cameras on the road had been erected in a bid to reduce traffic speed.

The road, which passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the North York Moors National Park, has a bad accident record because of its hills and bends.

Parish councils and representatives of the national park and county highways department have met to explore ways of cutting the danger to flocks because the road has about 54 outlets, mainly to farms and fields, the town council was told.