TWO people have been arrested following a road accident in which a motorcyclist died.

The crash happened shortly after 7pm on Thursday on the A171 south of Scaling Dam, between Guisborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Police closed the road for nearly 20 hours while they investigated the circumstances of the collision.

The biker is thought to be from the local area, but a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said his name would not be released until Monday at the earliest.

The accident involved an articulated lorry and a gold Nissan Micra, travelling north from Whitby to Guisborough, and a silver Renault Clio and a black Yamaha XJR motorcycle, travelling south.

Police believe the bike was in collision with the Clio and then with the oncoming Micra.

The Micra overturned and one of its four occupants needed treatment for minor injuries.

A man and a woman from the Micra were arrested by police. The pair, who are from outside North Yorkshire, were being questioned last night.

Police urged witnesses to the accident, or anyone who saw the four vehicles before the crash, to contact PC Richard Hammond on 0845-60-60-247.