ONE of the major routes to the coast in North Yorkshire, the A170 was closed in both directions for several hours after a tanker jack-knifed on Sutton Bank, near Thirsk.

North Yorkshire Police appealed to drivers to find an alternative route if they can while the road is being cleared.

At 11am they said they were not sure when it would be reopened, but it was cleared by 1.30pm.

Thousands of visitors were expected to use the road over the bank holiday.

It links Thirsk and Helmsley over the North York Moors and is used as a popular route to Whitby and Scaborough.