Highways experts were today expected to reveal firm plans for safety improvements to a Ryedale accident blackspot.

A detailed scheme to improve safety on the notorious stretch of the A64 at Golden Hill was this afternoon being presented by the Highways Agency to the county council's highways committee meeting at Ryedale House, Malton.

The hill has been the scene of several fatalities in recent months. There have also been a number of less serious accidents there.

These include a crash earlier this week in which a woman was taken to hospital and two vehicles were written off. There has been much speculation that the work will centre around the crawler lane, which several public figures, including Ryedale MP John Greenway, have demanded be closed.

But an agency spokesperson was staying tightlipped about the report's contents.

She said: "We will be presenting a solution. It is not hard and fast, there is room for adaptation, but what will be presented is the preferred option."

Christine Small, clerk to the committee, said the agency would simply be informing members of their progress on this matter.

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, January 10, 2001