A lorry fire caused traffic jams for visitors trying to reach the LAMMA 2010 event at the Newark Showground on the opening day (Jan 20).

Police closed the road north of Newark in both directions after it emerged that the vehicle was carrying gas cylinders.

The fire was extinguished but fire officers said it was possible the cylinders could still explode unless they were allowed to cool down.

Diversions were put in place and the road is expected to remain closed until early on Thursday (21 January).

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the two-day show, which opened to the public on Wednesday.

Adam Horsfield, who travelled to the show from Cambridgeshire, said traffic was stationary on the A1 two miles south of the showground.

“A1 stood still, coming off a junction early,” he posted on the micro-blogging website Twitter.

The detour paid off, as Mr Horsfield was soon able to post an update saying he had reached the showground.

Event organisers said visitors should follow diversion signs.

A series of diversions had already been pre-planned with the police and highways authority and one of these is now in place.

Last year also saw big delays for those trying to get to the show.

The combination of an accident on the A17, tree felling on the A46 and a wide load passing along the A46 added to the chaos.

Keep up to date with all the news from the show on FWi’s LAMMA report page.