RUSH-HOUR motorists faced long delays today after a massive barn fire shut a busy stretch of the A19 in York.

Twenty firefighters spent more than seven hours battling the blaze, at Manor Farm, Shipton.

The road was closed from about 1am - when the fire broke out - until 8.45am so that firefighters could run hoses across the road.

An AA Roadwatch spokesman said long traffic queues built up, mainly heading towards York.

"It did get quite badly snarled up," he said.

The route was clear by about 9.15am.

No one was injured and no livestock was involved in the fire, but the Dutch barn was destroyed.

Two tractors, two trailers, a crop-sprayer and 70 tonnes of straw also went up in smoke.

Firefighters took care to ensure a number of half-ton bags of nitrate being stored in the barn did not ignite.

Sub-officer Mick Allison said: "The nitrate was our priority. It can be nasty stuff and we had to keep an eye on it.

"There was a shed next door with some vehicles in and we had to keep that cool as well.

"The fire is considered doubtful and is being investigated."

Farmer Martyn Sellars, 49, who has run Manor Farm for the last 20 years, described the fire as "a devastating blow".

He said the alarm was raised after a neighbour was woken up by his dog barking at the fire.

Mr Sellars added that he was relieved the fire had not spread to any other farm buildings, as 500 pigs were kept nearby.

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, February 12, 2004