TWO men had a lucky escape when the lorry they were travelling in ended up in a ditch on the westbound carriageway of the A64 near Grimston Bar.

The HGV came off the road at about 1.10pm yesterday afternoon. The two men, who were from Darlington, managed to free themselves from their vehicle after it crashed.

They were said to be suffering from cuts and bruises, but did not require hospital treatment. Fire crews were also called to the scene, but were not required. Traffic Constable Andy Quigley, said the men had been "very lucky".

"It (the lorry) left the road for no apparent reason," he said.

Meanwhile a farmer came to the rescue when a luxury motor yacht ran aground - in the middle of a North Yorkshire road.

A boat haulage company trailer was towing the yacht - on its way from Naburn Marina to Norwich - on the A19 near Escrick yesterday afternoon when it became stuck on a ridge on the road.

Police closed the road, while a passing wagon driver attempted to tug the boat off the ridge.

But when it became stuck fast for a second time, a passing farmer offered to help.

His colleague, who had a large tractor, managed to haul the boat free.

Traffic Constable David Taylor said: "It was lucky that it was one of the quiet times of the day.

"It was thanks to the assistance of local farmers that we were able to open the road again so quickly."

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, July 01, 2004