UPDATED 12.05PM: The road has now reopened. Click here to read the latest on this story.

 

A MAJOR road has been shut by police following an accident.

The A1 M southbound is closed due to accident investigation work from junction  51, the A684 Leeming Bar and Bedale turn to junction 50, the A61 for Ripon following an accident at about 2.20am involving two  cars, one of which overturned and came to rest in a field.
 

It's affecting traffic heading away from Darlington towards York and Harrogate.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We are at the scene of a serious collision which happened at 2.20am just passed Leeming Bar and involved two vehicles.

"The road is expected to remain closed for several hours.

"Anyone who witnessed the collision or who was driving along that stretch of road at around the time of the collision is asked to contact police. Dial 101, press 1 and pass information to the Force Control Room, quoting reference number NYP-18102021-0020."

Drivers are being asked to follow a diversion following the solid circle symbol via the A6055 Southbound, which runs parallel to the A1(M), before turning left on to the A61 Northbound at the Baldersby Interchange, over the top of the motorway, to re-join the A1(M) at junction 50.

 

A1(M)Live travelSouthbound closed due to accident investigation work from J51 A684 (Leeming Bar / Bedale) to J50 A61 (Ripon). Traffic is coping well. Following a serious accident at around 02:30 involving a car, which overturned and came to rest in a field. Affecting traffic heading away from Darlington towards York and Harrogate. Diversion: Follow the solid circle symbol via A6055 Southbound, which runs parallel to the A1(M), before turning left on to the A61 Northbound at the Baldersby Interchange, over the top of the motorway, to re-join the A1(M) at J50