A POLICE force said it is continuing its efforts to improve motorbike safety following two fatal accidents in one day.

Five riders have now died in North Yorkshire over the last eight weeks - the same number as were killed in the county in the whole of 2012.

A 51-year-old man from Redcar and a 47-year-old man from Stockton died in collisions on the North York Moors on Sunday.

The county, which attracts large numbers of riders to its 5,500-mile road network, has seen 145 motorcyclist deaths since 2002.

In the last three years, following a campaign by the 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership, the number of fatal motorbike accidents has fallen to an average of 11 a year.

Traffic Sergeant Richard Parsons, of North Yorkshire Polices Roads Policing Group, said: "Sadly there were two motorcycle deaths in the county over the weekend and I hope that will be the end of the fatalities this year.

"Large numbers of bikers visit North Yorkshire every year to enjoy the picturesque and challenging routes the county can offer and the vast majority of them go home safely.

"Unfortunately, we do get tragedies where bikers don't make it back to their families and we are working hard to educate bikers through initiatives such as the Bikesafe scheme to try and reduce the number of casualties on our roads.

"We want people to be educated to a high standard and Bikesafe is the first step to learning the skills which can contribute towards bikers having the knowledge and ability to handle their machines and the challenges presented on our roads.

"In North Yorkshire we welcome motorcyclists who are responsible and stick to the rules of the road. Anyone who comes here and doesn't take their responsibility seriously and rides outside the law will be appropriately dealt with."

Motorcycling safety group Advanced Riders North Yorkshire, which provides bike training, claimed recent reductions in funding for road repairs and safety schemes would lead to less able motorcyclists facing more hazards.

Tony Brunskill, the group's secretary, said while it has been increasingly difficult to finance initiatives such as safety workshops and speed awareness schemes, they were an inexpensive way of improving rider safety.

For more information about the police Bikesafe scheme visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/bikesafe