A MOTORCYCLIST from Middlesbrough has died after a collision with a telegraph pole at the side of the A170 in North Yorkshire.

The man was found by the Thirsk to Helmsley road between the junctions to Ampleforth and Sproxton. 

The incident was reported to North Yorkshire Police just before 2pm on Thursday when a passing motorist came across the motorbike. 

The rider, a 51-year-old man from Middlesbrough, was travelling east towards Helmsley at the time of the collision and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers are carrying out an investigation into the circumstances of the collision and are appealing to anyone who was travelling along the A170 between Helmsley and Thirsk on Thursday afternoon to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for the Major Collision Investigation Team or email mcit@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk Please quote reference number 12170156031 when passing on information.

The road was closed to allow emergency services to deal with the incident and to allow collision investigators to examine the scene. It reopened at 5.40pm.