Main holiday route shut by cargo ship reopens

Two lifeboats and Royal Navy and RAF helicopters were involved in the rescue of seven Polish crew after the MV Carrier struck rocks near Colwyn Bay, north Wales, on Tuesday in heavy seas.

Since then the A55 – the main trunk road to Anglesey and the north Wales coast – has been closed, causing traffic chaos on surrounding roads.

The continued closure of the road would have been a major setback for holidaymakers making their way to the many resorts in the area. But the Highways Agency reopened the road today.

A spokesman said: “Both lanes of the A55 have now been reopened between Junction 22 and Junction 23 and are expected to remain so for the Bank Holiday weekend.”

However, due to the nature of the incident travellers are advised to get the latest information from www.traffic-wales.com before they travel.

The ship, which is registered in Antigua and Barbuda and was carrying a cargo of stone, is now resting against concrete blocks on the beach at Llanddulas, which runs adjacent to the A55.