The Great North Road came close to disaster this evening when a tanker carrying a highly inflammable chemical overturned.

The vehicle, carrying ethanol, rolled over at the junction of the A1 and the A66, opposite the Scotch Corner Hotel, early yesterday evening.

One of the tanks ruptured, leaving ethanol smoking and leaking onto the road but to the relief of firefighters it failed to catch fire.

"If this lot went up there would be a very big bang," said a fire service spokesman from the scene.

"It could still happen so we will be staying here to the end and will supervise while the tanker is being lifted away."

The accident also brought chaos for other road users, causing major tailbacks north and south on the A1 and long delays on the A66.