NATIONAL Highways has issued an update on a closure on the A49 in Herefordshire after a diesel spill.

The busy A-road, which runs all the way through the county, was closed southbound after the fuel spill, National Highways announced just before 10pm last night, February 28.

The closure was between the A465 junction at Belmont and the B4399 junction at Grafton, to the south of Hereford city, National Highways said.

It was necessary due to a "large diesel spill from a lorry", and a diversion route was put into place.

Police were also on scene and leading the response to deal with the incident, National Highways said.

The road was closed for hours before reopening in the early hours of the morning.

ALSO READ:

National Highways said the southbound carriageway between Belmont and Grafton had reopened just before 1am this morning.

Fuel spillages on roads can be a real danger and need specialist cleaning, with National Highways (then Highways England) saying in 2020 that diesel left on the road surface for as little as two hours leads to structural damage, resulting in the need for resurfacing.  

The longer the spill takes to contain and treat, the greater the damage to the road surface and the higher the chance of contaminating water systems, the organisation said.

Diesel spills on the highway also reduce skid resistance, resulting in increased skid risk and longer braking distances.