Traffic-calming measures on a busy road have been altered because they narrowed the road too much.

Work to narrow the A170 on the approach to Helmsley was carried out as part of a £100,000 scheme.

But now large agricultural machinery cannot fit through.

Residents say they have seen combine harvester drivers stop traffic so they can drive on the wrong side of the road round a traffic island.

The county's district surveyor, Peter Renshaw, said: "Due to representations from local farmers to say that their agricultural implements were wider than the actual road surface between the central refuge and the side of the carriageway, work has been carried out to widen the road."

Geoff Gibson, who lives in the area, said: "I think it's an absolute waste of money. They've narrowed the road to reduce drivers' speed but they've made it too narrow for vehicles like combine harvesters, and actually made it more dangerous.

"There's been no foresight and a serious lack of planning.

Local community beat officer PC Ray Thwaites said: "It's apparent that large vehicles have had difficulty getting through because they've clipped the sign and left marks.

"There have been local concerns raised about the width of the road and the fact that large farm vehicles, like combine harvesters, can't get through."