EMERGENCY services have taken a man to hospital after he fell ill behind the wheel on a main artery in to York this morning.

The incident, outside the Sainsbury's Local in Bishopthorpe Road, caused traffic problems during rush hour as the road was shut between the junction with Scarcroft Road and the junction with Southlands Road.

Five police cars and an ambulance were at the scene for around 40 minutes from 8.55am to treat the man, who was driving a van for York Trade Windows Limited.

Traffic was backed up over Skeldergate Bridge and in to the city centre.

York Press:

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I was driving into York down Bishopthorpe Road at about 8.45am and saw the van parked in the road.

"It was odd because no-one was around and it had no hazard warning lights on to say it had broken down.

"Drivers were going past the van, then I saw a man open the driver's door to check what was going on because it didn't look like anyone was in the van.

"He must have spotted the driver and realised he wasn't well because he started running quickly towards the shops on Bishopthorpe Road and others were on their mobiles phoning 999."

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said they were called at 8.42am and the man has been taken to York Hospital.  

More to follow...

York Press: