A MOTOCROSS rider has died and another seriously injured after two separate incidents at a quad bike and motocross event in the North-East.

A male rider was killed after a crash shortly after 1pm on Sunday at the showcase event at the Hardwick Motocross track, at Low Hardwick Farm, near Sedgefield.

The man, who has not been named, was airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance Service to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, however it was confirmed that he had died shortly after arrival.

A second rider – a woman in her early 30s – was also airlifted to the Middlesbrough hospital following a separate incident at around 2.10pm.

Durham Police were called to the track and closed the privately-run event that involved around 100 participants and 300 spectators on the grounds that it was unsafe to continue.

Durham Police’s Superintendent Mick Bird said: “We are understand the formal investigation is likely to be led by the local authority but we are carrying out initial enquiries into the circumstances.

“With two very serious incidents within little more than an hour, we felt there was little choice but to bring the event to a close.”

The investigation is not being led by Health and Safety Executive as the incidents did not happen in a location which comes under their remit.

Tributes were being paid on Facebook on Sunday night.

Marc Hally wrote on the site Support Hardwick Motorcross: "R.I.P fellow biker,pin it in the sky."

While Reece Burns wrote:  "R.I.P the lad who lost his life today after a serious crash, heart goes out to his family."

Josh Harper wrote: "R.I.P to the lad who sadly died today after a huge crash, heart is with his family."