A 59-year-old man was pronounced dead after his car crashed into a post near an Apperley Bridge school yesterday.

The man, yet to be identified but from the Leeds area, was behind the wheel of a Mazda MX5 Eunos that collided with a wall at the side of the A658 Apperley Lane about 12.50pm yesterday as he was travelling uphill towards Rawdon.

He was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary with police describing his condition as serious, but last night they revealed that he had died shortly after the crash.

Police are investigating whether the man collapsed while driving which caused him to crash.

They believe the car collided with a stone wall a number of times before hitting a telegraph post and coming to rest.

A police spokesman said there were no other cars involved and that the man was the only casualty. They are not looking for witnesses, although the full details of his death have yet to be confirmed.

The road was sealed off after the crash, leading to traffic gridlock between Bradford and Leeds until the early evening.

As well as Apperley Lane being closed in both directions, New Road Side, Leeds Road, Otley Road, and Farsley Ring Road were busy with queues for up to five hours after the crash, and people travelling between Bradford and Leeds faced lengthy delays.

Because of the closures, police advised nearby schools to let parents know to avoid the school run by car, and pupils stayed at many schools after the end of the school day until the roads were re-opened.

Parents of pupils at Bronte House School received text messages informing them of the closures, and that the only access would be on foot.

Roads remained gridlocked for much of the afternoon, and many motorists faced a one-hour delay driving through the village.