One man has come down from the tanker and has been arrested for tampering with a vehicle. The other remains on top of the lorry at this time. In addition, a woman has been arrested for obstructing the highway.

Local residents are able to pass the obstruction on foot to access their homes, however the road is blocked and motorists are still being urged to plan their journeys accordingly.

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POLICE are urging motorists to avoid the centre of Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, after two people climbed on to a tanker as it drove through the village this morning.

At about 9.10am, two people climbed on top of a tanker on Main Street, Kirby Misperton, near the roundabout in the centre of the village.

The vehicle has stopped and the road is blocked, so motorists are being asked to avoid the area while a specialist police team deals with the incident.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This protest activity will have a significant impact on the local community this morning. Police are doing all they can to minimise disruption to residents.”