A SECTION of the A64 was closed after police were called to concerns for the safety of a woman.

North Yorkshire Police initially would not confirm the details of the incident, but later said they were called at 3.30pm to reports of a woman looking over the bridge between Fulford and Askham Bar.

A police spokesman said callers reported the woman did not appear distressed, but by the time police arrived, she was nowhere to be found.

In a post on Twitter, a spokesman said: "#A64 between Fulford and Askham Bar. Ongoing incident on the westbound side causing heavy congestion both sides. Avoid the area if at all possible."

One traffic report said the A64 Westbound had been partially blocked with heavy traffic due to an accident close to the Fulford Interchange at about 5.20pm. It is unclear whether this is connected to the police incident, but police also confirmed one lane had been blocked by emergency services due to the incident.

The incident caused heavy congestion in both directions, but at about 5.45pm, police said emergency vehicles were leaving the scene, and both lanes were reopening to allow traffic to move freely.

The police spokesman said the North Yorkshire Police drone team, York Rescue Boat and Fire Service boat all attended and carried out searches of the area.

He said the teams "worked on the assumption she entered the river", but a search yielded "negative gain".