A1 road closed near Catterick after 'explosion'


Police closed the road after an explosion was reported at 03:00 GMT

The A1 road has been closed at Catterick, North Yorkshire, after reports of an explosion.


North Yorkshire Police was alerted by staff at the Army's Marne Barracks, part of nearby Catterick Garrison, at 03:00 GMT, but has still not located an actual explosion site.
The search is continuing in the area adjacent to the A1, and slip roads in and out of the village are also shut.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area.
The force said Catterick village was "heavily congested".
A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said the closure affected a six-mile (10km) stretch of road.
Newcastle United fans travelling to the away game with West Ham are among those affected.
The club said it had notified West Ham officials of the situation.
The A1 runs adjacent to the barracks, formerly RAF Catterick.


'Largest training establishment'

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The search remains focused on the area outside of the barracks and the area adjacent to the A1, although at this stage, it cannot be ruled out that it has occurred within the boundary of the barracks.
"The safety of members of the public, including passing motorists, is our prime concern and therefore all security precautions must be taken to protect members of the public until we find out exactly what has occurred."
A spokesman for Catterick Garrison said the inquiry was police-led and did not have any information about how close the explosion was to the barracks.
On the Ministry of Defence website, Catterick Garrison is described as the army's "largest training establishment".
It covers 2,400 acres (971 hectares) and 20,000 acres (8,094 hectares) of training land.
The garrison is situated just a few miles from the A1 and also includes the outstations of Ripon, Dishforth and Topcliffe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30258728