TWO motorcyclists were killed within hours of each other on the region's roads yesterday.

One man died in a three-vehicle crash on the B6279 Staindrop Road, in Darlington, at about 1pm.

It is believed the dead man, who was in his 30s, was a pillion passenger on a bike which ran into the wreckage of a crash which had happened moments earlier between a car and another motorbike.

He was taken to Darlington's Memorial Hospital but died from his injuries.

Three other people - two with minor injuries and a third with a suspected broken leg - were also taken to hospital. Three ambulances, two rapid response paramedic cars and two fire engines attended the accident.

Less than six hours later, at about 6.25pm, a motorcyclist died in North Yorkshire when he was involved in a collision with a car. The accident happened on the A1257 between Stokesley and Helmsley, just north of Newgate Bank.

The road was closed for several hours last night and local diversions were put in place.