A CORONER wants a dangerous road junction at Sedgefield to be sealed off, following the death of a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger.

After recording verdicts of accidental death, Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield said he intended to write to Durham County Council expressing concern about the number of accidents on the dual carriageway since alterations were made in 2003 and one of the lanes was narrowed.

He said: "My first recommendation is to consider if, balancing the safety aspect with the convenience of road users, whether the junction could be sealed off."

The council's strategic transport team is investigating the junction and it is normal practice to record crash statistics for three years before any conclusions can be drawn.

Mr Sheffield also recommends that this time period is shortened in light of the nine recorded accidents between the alterations being completed and May this year.

The accident happened when the bike and a minibus collided at the junction of Stockton Road and the A689 on September 5 last year.

On Wednesday, after the inquest, Coun Ken Manton, county council leader, said he had wanted the junction closed for some time.

"The number of accidents increased slightly when the junction was reconfigured and there was a peak last September. However, over the past year the number has been decreasing."

Coun Manton said that he had called for a new junction at the large A689 and A177 roundabout. A connecting road could be built on a section of green land near Stockton Road.

"This has a large degree of resistance because it would open up the area to the possibility of new housing. The planners of Sedgefield Borough have said that the highways issue isn't as important as this green wedge."

He said that it would cost a quarter of a million pounds to install a roundabout and this was not practical because it would be too close to the existing roundabout.

The inquest, at Teesside Coroner's Court, heard that motorcyclist, James Cooper, 20, of Billingham, died in the James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, three weeks after the collision owing to respiratory difficulties as a result of chest injuries.

His pillion passenger, Elizabeth Munt, also 20 and from Billingham, died in North Tees Hospital three days after the accident of head injuries.

Minibus driver David Cook, from Fishburn, and his three passengers all suffered shock.

Mr Cook is due to appear before magistrates in December charged with driving without due care and attention, and failing to give way