A MAN has been charged with driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol following the death of a pensioner who was hit by a motorbike.

Helen Doherty, 78, was killed in an incident in Forest Drive, Colburn, in August, and hundreds of tributes were paid to the community-minded grandmother.

A 32-year-old man from Richmond has been charged with the following and is due to appear at Northallerton Magistrates' Court on March 3.

He is charged with: Causing death by driving without due care and attention while unfit through drugs; causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the legal alcohol limit; failing to stop following a road accident; and making a false statement to obtain insurance.

Police were called to a report of a collision involving a Lexmoto motorcycle and a pedestrian at 10.45am on Saturday, August 13 last year.

Mrs Doherty was taken to James Cook University Hospital by air ambulance but she sadly died from her injuries.