A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital after crashing as he swerved to avoid a car.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident involving a blue Kawasaki ZX1100 motorcycle and a grey Mazda 3 car on the outskirts of Whitby.

It happened on the A174 Redcar to Whitby road at the Ellerby high junction at about 3.20pm on Sunday, June 7.

The motorcycle was heading towards Whitby and the Mazda was turning onto the main road from Ellerby Lane on the way to Whitby.

The rider, a 55-year-old man from Skelton, East Cleveland, suffered a fractured arm, bruising and concussion after crashing into the road-side grass verge to avoid hitting the car.

He was transported by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he is in a "serious but stable" condition.

The 72-year-old man driving the Mazda and his partner, who are from Crewe, Cheshire, were uninjured.

Witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw either vehicle before the incident, are asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Gareth Gilleard or e-mail gareth.gilleard@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk