A POPULAR TOURIST route in Moray was closed for much of the day on Monday after a military lorry landed up on its side in a ditch.

The vehicle was heading along the B9040 Lossiemouth to Hopeman road at around 3.30pm went it slid off the road near Covesea.

Nobody was injured in the incident although police attended and closed the road well into Monday evening as a recovery operation for the 39 Engineer Regiment support vehicle was undertaken.

The truck – which was believed to be carrying a load of earth – was returning to Kinloss Barracks when it dropped around 15feet off the road at Plewlands Farm. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A single vehicle went off the road but thankfully there were no injuries.

“Officers were on the scene to control traffic and the road was closed to allow recovery.”

Traffic was diverted via Gordonstoun and Duffus until the road was reopened again at around 9pm.