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

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

Councillor Jane Barker said one of the problems was large Dutch and Italian freight lorries and motorcycles, coming from Teesside.

There were growing fears for traffic and road safety at the junction to Rievaulx.

The problem is most acute when farmers are trying 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 have been erected in a bid to reduce speeding. 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 junctions, mainly to farms and fields, the town council was told.