They were called to the scene at 5.50am following reports that a silver Vauxhall Astra had left the road one mile from Ripley.

The driver, a 32 year old man from the Harrogate area, was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as Stewart Michael Waddington, of no fixed abode.

The accident occurred when the vehicle, travelling towards Harrogate, left the road and collided with a brick wall near the junction with Nidd Lane.

The route has been a known accident hotspot for many years, and is among a number being targeted by police in a hard-hitting enforcement campaign aimed at cutting deaths on the county's roads.

The road was closed between Wormald Green and the north roundabout at Ripley, forcing traffic to divert through Markington.

There were long queues in both directions as police directed slow-moving vehicles, including large lorries and coaches, through the village's narrow streets.

One motorist said: "I was heading towards Ripon and joined a long tailback of vehicles which stretched far beyond the village. It took me about 20 minutes to get through the hold-up and re-join the A61."

Another commuter, Matt Bowden, was travelling towards Harrogate. He said: "It set a long traffic jam three miles down the road, I was half an hour late in getting to work. I couldn't even see the end of the queue."

Sergeant Andy Stow is calling for anyone who may have seen the accident to contact police. He said: "Unfortunately as a result of the crash he sustained fatal injuries. I would appeal to anybody that may have seen the vehicle at that time in the morning to get in touch with myself at the Harrogate Police Station on 0845 6060247.