MOTORISTS are facing ‘disruption’ on the A59 after a lorry caught fire between Clitheroe and Skipton.

Firefighters remain on the scene 'dampening down' wooden palettes on the lorry, which caught fire after a problem started with one of the wheels.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen coming from the wagon at the incident, believed to be half a mile from the Barnoldswick turning on the A59.

A spokesman for Clitheroe fire service said: "It happened half a mile from the Barnoldswick turning on the A59, on the eastbound carriageway towards Skipton.

"It looks like there has been an issue with one of his wheels.

"The fire has spread through to the wooden palettes where cement is sat.

"The cab has been disconnected from the trailer."

Four fire engines attended the scene after being called out shortly after 2pm.

The spokesman said: "Two fire engines from Skipton and two from Clitheroe attended.

"There are still two engines there, one from Clitheroe and one from Skipton, and they are in the process of working with the recovery company to remove the badly damaged palettes onto another trailer and dampening down any hot spots.

"One lane has been closed so there will be congestion."

A section of the road has been closed between Clitheroe and Skipton while officials work on the blue Scania, and police said there would be 'some disruption'.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "There is a partial road closure between Clitheroe and Skipton.

"The fire crews are still in attendance.

"They used one jet and two hose reels to attend to the wagon."

A police spokesman said: "We were called at about 1.55pm to reports of a highway incident near Horton and Skipton.

"There was a wagon on the grass verge and a trailer on fire.

"The trailer is still on the road and we are still on the scene.

"It is a Scania, it looks like an articulated lorry.

"We have had to send for a loader to remove the vehicle from that section of the road.

"The fire has all been put out now.

"It should be done by 5.30pm but I would imagine there is still some disruption on the roads."