ANIMAL carcasses have been left strewn in a road after a lorry slid in a diesel spill and shed its load.

The obstruction has led Dorset Police to close the road while the mess is cleaned up.

It happened on the C13 Higher Shaftesbury Road at Spread Eagle Hill near Compton Abbas airfield earlier this afternoon.

Dorset Police said it was reported that a large diesel spill in the road going up the hill towards the Compton Abbas turning had caused a lorry to slide backwards.

It was reported that the lorry's doors then flung open and animal carcasses which were being transported came out of the back and fell into the road.

Dorset Police were notified of the incident at just after 12pm.

An officer is on scene assisting with the road closure and the clean-up is being dealt with by the local authority.

The road is closed while the incident is dealt with and local diversions are in place.

Dorset Council said its workers were involved in the clean-up operation.

A highways team is at the scene who will be helping to clean up.

It is expected the road will be closed until about 5pm.