A FATHER watched in horror as his biker daughter was killed in a hit-and-run crash.

Leslie Lawrence, 36, of Cromwell Street, Sunderland, was riding her 600cc Yamaha on the A19 near Washington, Wearside, when she was struck by a Ford Fiesta.

The crash happened on the northbound carriageway, 150 yards south of the A1231 sliproad, at 7.40pm on Monday.

Ms Lawrence was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where she died several hours later from her injuries.

Emergency crews who went to the crash said her father had been travelling immediately behind her on another motorbike when the tragedy happened.

The occupants of the Fiesta fled the scene, leaving the rider injured on the road, said a police spokesman.

A Washington fire station spokesman said: "When we got there, paramedics were attending the motorcyclist, who was unconscious.

"We were told she had been on her Yamaha when a Fiesta lost control and swerved into her bike. Her father was with her at the time, on another motorbike."

Three people have been arrested in connection with the death and were last night being questioned at Sunderland Central police station.