ONE person was killed and 13 others were injured - seven of them seriously - in at least ten accidents which brought chaos to a fogbound A1 yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police have not released the identity of the woman who died, but a spokesman confirmed she was involved in a collision on the southbound carriageway at Walshford, between Allerton Park and Wetherby.

The spokesman went on to condemn some motorists who failed to respond to the treacherous driving conditions.

"Fog doesn't cause accidents, drivers do. The fact remains that some have simply been going too quickly and, in some cases, without lights.

"The result has been tens, if not thousands, of pounds worth of damage, while some people would not be going home."

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's resources were also stretched by the accidents, which a spokesman agreed were mainly caused by poor driving.

"It may not be one particular driver's fault, but you have to be aware of what could happen in front of you and give yourself time to react if it does. It's just a matter of people thinking about what they are doing in these sort of conditions,'' he said.

Visibility was down to yards in places while tailbacks built up quickly, presenting an additional hazard.

The A1 was closed southbound from Dishforth for most of the day, while queues also formed on the A59, A19 and A61, particularly during the rush hour.

Durham City Coaches said a day-trip to see Les Miserables, in London, left Darlington at 9am yesterday and had only reached Wetherby by 3pm.

Businessman Eric Smith, of Peterlee, County Durham, also gave up on his appointments for the day after it took him two-and-half hours to travel the five miles south from Boroughbridge to Allerton Park.

He said: "I just can't understand why there was no more information available. I was listening to the radio when I first heard about the delays, so used my mobile to access a travel network and was told I could expect a five-minute wait.

"Other drivers seemed just as bemused but no one seemed to know what was going on. Surely, the police could have done a better job with the traffic."

The North Yorkshire force spokesman sympathised, but added that the conditions yesterday were exceptional.

"We understand some drivers were frustrated by the delays, but we hope they will also understand our position.

"We had officers out in cold, damp and sometimes dangerous conditions all day and they were all doing their very best in the circumstances."

* A car was burnt out and several people were injured in a four-vehicle collision on the A19 northbound, near the turn off for Easington, in County Durham yesterday.

A 28-year-old woman from Stockton was airlifted to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering from head and chest injuries after her Vauxhall Vectra burst into flames following the crash. Her 31-year-old female passenger, from Middlesbrough, received hospital treatment for a chest injury.

A 46-year-old man from Peterlee, County Durham, whose Rover 418 was also extensively damaged, was treated for whiplash injuries.

The drivers of the two other vehicles involved, a 27-year-old woman from Hartlepool and a 36-year-old man from Shotton, County Durham, were uninjured.

Both carriageways of the A19 were closed.