DRIVERS planning to use the westbound A66 in Cumbria this evening are being advised that it will be closed from 7pm - with no access for lorry drivers beyond Brough.

Other road users will be able to use local diversions or the A685 Kirkby Stephen route towards the M6 to get past the carriageway closure which is being made to remove a crane which caught fire and was severely damaged on Sunday morning.

The incident closed both the eastbound and the westbound carriageways of the A66 for two hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and waited for the crane to cool.

Although the eastbound carriageway and lane two of the westbound carriageway re-opened at about 2pm, lane one of the westbound carriageway has remained closed for specialist recovery of the crane and for resurfacing of the carriageway which was badly damaged in the blaze.

Both the resurfacing and recovery operation will take place during this evening's full closure of the westbound carriageway. The work should be completed before 6am tomorrow when both lanes of the carriageway should be open again.

The Highways Agency is advising lorry drivers to seek alternative transpennine routes, including the A69 or M62, for journeys this evening as diversion routes from Brough are not suitable for heavy vehicles. Other road users are being advised to leave a little bit of extra time to complete journeys as they will need to take local diversion routes or the A685 for Kirkby Stephen from Brough.