Major tailbacks on tidal causeway after crash

Cars were still on the causeway when the safe crossing period ended at 14:20 BST

Drivers were stuck on a tidal causeway after a vehicle crashed into a railway crossing causing significant tailbacks.

The Holy Island causeway was still filled with cars just as the safe crossing time was ending at 14:20 BST, after a tractor hit barriers at Beal Level Crossing on the Northumberland mainland more than a mile away.

One of those caught up in the delays said traffic had "backed up the entire causeway all the way to the village on the island".

About 120 cars were diverted to a field on the mainland, while others were left stuck on Holy Island until the next safe crossing time at 21:05 BST.

The crossing is the only road on to the island.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said the alarm was raised at about 11:40 BST.

"Coastguard rescue teams from Holy Island and Berwick assisted people in a queue of vehicles which were unable to drive off Holy Island causeway when the train gates did not open across the nearby railway line," they added.

"A nearby field on the mainland was opened for vehicles to park until the train gates were able to reopen by about 14:00 BST."

Going over the level crossing is the only way off the island, also known as Lindisfarne

Cheryl Allison, who was one of those caught up in the delays, said: "We made it off the island.

"Traffic was backed up the entire causeway all the way to the village on the island.

"We had just passed the safe crossing window when we got stuck."

Reverend Canon Dr Sarah Hills, vicar of Holy Island, said it has "limited capacity" during unsafe crossing times.

"Quite a lot of people are stuck here who don't want to be," she told the BBC.

"The weather isn't nice, there's limited capacity in the pubs and many of the cafes have closed because the staff live on the mainland."

Northumbria Police was in attendance to help direct traffic.