TWO motorcyclists were killed in separate collisions, on the same road, within half an hour of each other, police said today.

The crashes took place on the B1222, near Sherburn-in-Elmet, in North Yorkshire, yesterday evening.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the road was often used by bikers, and the collisions were 500 metres apart.

The road was closed for more than five hours after the collisions, while crash scene investigators examined the scene.

The first incident took place at about 5.45pm, and involved a red Honda motorcycle and a silver Mercedes Benz car.

The biker, a man in his 40s, believed to be from the Doncaster area, suffered fatal injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes was treated for minor injuries.

A man was airlifted to hospital after the second collision, which took place at about 6.15pm.

The police spokesman said: "The collision occurred on the same road, between Sherburn-in-Elmet and Newthorpe, close to the Squires café.

"Three motorcycles were turning right, onto Gorse Lane.

"The two leading vehicles had turned right, when the third driver lost control and collided with a stone wall."

The driver was airlifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but later died.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0845-60-60-24-7.