A BLOWN tyre caused a lorry fire on the A1M this morning which led to the closure of the southboound carriageway.

The articulated lorry was carrying 28.5 tonnes of wheat when its tyre blew.

The driver pulled over onto the hard shoulder near the exit slip road at junction 56 when he realised that his vehicle was on fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene shortly after 7am and safely dealt with the blaze.

Richmond Watch Manager Steve Morris said: "Nobody was injured.

"The tyre was the cause of the fire which burnt through the alloy body of the tipper and got into the wheat inside so we had to drag some of the wheat out."

Motorists were diverted off the A1 while the incident was dealt with.

The fire service left the scene in the hands of the Higways Agency to clear up the wheat and other debris but the road is now open.

Motorists are being warned that there may still be delays in the area.