RUSH-HOUR traffic was held up this morning - by a slow-moving slate roof!

The roof, which was being transported on a tractor's trailer through York, became stuck between parked cars as it went along Heslington Road.

Delivery men reported being delayed by at least an hour as police diverted traffic down side roads while the Ford tractor weaved its way along.

Residents turned out to watch the spectacle as the tractor driver and a colleague manoeuvred the vehicle and pitched roof, which spanned a width of about 15 feet.

A York Police spokesman said: "An agricultural tractor has been towing a slated roof along Heslington Road and has managed to get it stuck. The trailer was as wide as the road."

Steve Williams who was delivering paper to printers in York said he had been delayed by an hour.

"They were knocking on doors, trying to get the cars moved," he said. "How do you explain to customers you are stuck behind a roof on the road?"

Richard Hanson who was delivering to Co-op stores, said he had been diverted down Wellington Road, but the street was too narrow for his 30-tonne delivery truck, thus adding to the "gridlock".

"I have been here an hour. I have another half-day's work to do and I am well behind," he said.

Adrian Lawrence, who came out from his Heslington Road home to watch, said: "I realised there was a problem at about 8am because all the cars were turning back. I was surprised to see a roof in the road. My car was parked here on the side. I quickly moved it."

Updated: 10:13 Wednesday, November 03, 2004