A LANDSLIDE following two days of heavy rain has forced the closure of a key east-west route passing through the Yorkshire Dales.

A number of roads around North Yorkshire have been forced to close due to flooding - the most significant has occurred as a result of the landslip at Kexgill, Blubberhouses, on the A59 between Harrogate and Bolton Abbey.

Over a hundred tonnes of material slipped from the hillside above the road, blocking the carriageway.

The area has now been inspected by a geotechnical engineer and is considered to be unsafe due to the condition of the water logged material remaining above the road.

A further assessment of the road and hillside will be carried out on Monday when the water standing on the hillside has had the opportunity to drain away.

Remedial works will then be put in place to stabilise the ground and reopen the road.

The duration of the closure is not known at this time but an indication will be given on Monday.

County Councillor John Fort, the County Council's executive member with responsibility for highways, said: "The A59 is a key east west route across North Yorkshire and the diversion through Otley and Ilkley is a long and difficult journey.

"We will be doing everything we can to reopen the A59 at the earliest opportunity."