THE driver of an HGV was arrested by police today, over allegations of drink driving.

Sergeant Paul Cording of North Yorkshire Police said a member of the public had contacted the force to report the tanker travelling south on the A1(M), and the caller "believed the driver to be drunk", and claimed to have "seen open cans of alcohol in the cab".

Police located and pulled over the HGV near Wetherby, and the driver was asked to provide a roadside breath test, which police said was about 1.5 times the legal drink-drive limit.

Sgt Cording said on Twitter: "I've called the reporting person back to thank him. The consequences of a drunk driver behind the wheel of this could have been catastrophic."

Sgt Cording said the contents of the tanker were not hazardous, but "with a drink driver behind the wheel I would say at 18 tonnes it is hazardous".

The driver remains in police custody.