A biker suffered serious injuries in an early hours crash that shut a County Durham road for hours.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the serious collision involving a motorcycle and a car near Lanchester in County Durham at around 4.45am today (Tuesday, October 4).

Officers believe a motorcyclist was travelling towards Consett, on Stockerley Lane, in the same direction as a dark-coloured BMW 5 series, when it struck the rear of the car.

The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries after falling from the bike.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to the driver of what is believed to be a white coloured Transit-style van that is understood to have been behind the BMW just prior to the collision.

The road was closed for closed for several hours today while investigators worked at the scene.

It has since reopened.

Witnesses or anyone with dash cam of the incident or of the motorcycle prior to the incident, are asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident reference 53 of October 4.

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