THE A1 has reopened after a tanker carrying around 28,500 litres of milk overturned and spilt milk on the southbound carriageway near Catterick.

Fire and rescue crews were called to the scene at around 2.55pm on Saturday, August 3.

There was a "sizable" milk spillage and fire crews used specialist equipment to stop more spilling onto the road, a fire service spokesman said.

No other vehicles were in the collision and the tanker driver suffered serious injuries when he was thrown from the cab onto the northbound carriageway. He was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesborough via air ambulance, where his condition is described as serious.

The Environment Agency was called but confirmed no waterways were in danger, the spokesman added

Recovery tankers were sent to decant all the remaining milk from the tanker involved.

The road was closed between Catterick North and Catterick South for a clean-up operation and reopened fully at around 5.15am on Sunday.