POLICE have urged to bikers travelling to the Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire, for tomorrow's British Superbike Championships to take care on the region's rural roads.

Inspector Andy Huddleston, of Durham's road policing unit said today: "This is a huge event with anything up to 20,000 bikers expected.

"Many will be travelling long distances to attend this event swelling the amount of traffic on the rural roads leading to this venue."

Inspector Huddleston also appealed for information about an accident which claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman rider near Wolsingham early this morning.

The woman, who is from Galashiels, in the Scottish borders, is believed to have been attending a bikers' event near Fir Tree with her partner and friends.

She was alone on a black 850cc three wheeler when she crashed into a road sign after missing a junction at Redgate Head.

Police are unsure of the time of the accident but believe it happened between midnight and 2am, although it was not reported until 2.40am.

They said she had been travelling on the B6297 from Tow Law but did not know why she had missed a give way junction and driven over the B6296 into the sign.

She has not yet been named.

Anyone who saw the bike or has any information about the tragedy is asked to contact PC Haigh in the police accident unit on 0191-375-2159 or 0845-60-60-365. Calls can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.