A TRACTOR came within inches of careering into a post office in Wilburton near Ely yesterday after its steering failed.

The near-miss happened shortly after 12pm outside the village post office, on High Street, with large quantities of oil spilled onto the road and pavement when the vehicle suddenly broke down.

Eyewitnesses say the driver managed narrowly managed to avoid crashing through the front of the post office before finally bringing the vehicle to a stop against a wall, just a few yards further down the road.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire police said officers were called to help direct the traffic while the tractor remained marooned in the middle of the carriageway.

An employee at Wilburton Post Office said that the fire service was called to help deal with the large quantities of oil that spilled across the road in the incident.

The employee added that spare parts were traced for the tractor and it was eventually repaired before driving away some two hours later.