Main road closed for six-hours due to instant mash spillage

A section of a busy main road in North Yorkshire was blocked for almost six hours on Saturday after a lorry shed its load of instant mashed potato.



North Yorkshire Police said the incident took place on the A64 close to Whitwell on the Hill, near Malton, causing unsafe driving conditions. A police spokesman said: "Instant mash is covering the road and cars have skidded as a result of the mash swelling up."

Police and the Highways Agency closed the road in both directions to allow recovery of the overturned vehicle and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene to help clear the spillage from the road. It is believed the substance had frozen onto the road surface.



The incident happened at about 3.30pm, and the road was closed shortly after. Diversions were put in place in both directions. At 8.30pm, police said one lane had been reopened to westbound traffic to ease "extreme tailbacks". Some time later the road was reopened in both directions. The police spokeswoman said nobody was injured in the incident.