A WOMAN was killed when her car left the A1 and landed upside down in a field early this morning.

The 27-year-old local woman, who has not yet been named, was travelling on the southbound carriageway of the A1 near Catterick when her car skidded off the road, hit a tree and landed upside down at 5.45am.

Police were informed about the accident by another motorist travelling behind the woman’s blue Peugeot 206 at 5.50am, who witnessed the accident and immediately called emergency services.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police confirmed the carriageway was very wet at the time of the accident following recent significant rainfall, however could not speculate as to whether that caused the woman to lose control of the car.

The southbound carriageway remained closed until just after 11.30am following the collision.

Traffic Sergeant John Lumbard, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was travelling on this stretch of the A1 around the time of the collision to contact North Yorkshire Police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for John Lumbard.