A second death crash on a North Yorkshire road in just over two months has led a county councillor - whose son died in a road crash four years ago - to call for detailed reports into the circumstances surrounding both fatalities.

In the latest accident, a motorcyclist died on Wednesday when his machine collided with a car near the North Rigton railway level crossing junction on the A658 Harrogate-Bradford Road, near Harrogate.

In August, a cyclist, Mr Stefan Forge, 47, of Hookstone Avenue, Oatlands, Harrogate, died at the scene of an accident on the same road, near North Rigton.

Despite widespread inquiries and an appeal from the man's brother, Adrian Forge, police have been unable to trace another vehicle involved in the accident.

Mr Forge's friend and fellow cyclist, Jonathan Wastling, of Rossett Avenue, Harrogate, was seriously injured in the accident near the Whitegates Kennels, at Nab Bridge, between Buttersyke Bar and the North Rigton crossroads.

County Councillor Thomas, whose Haverah division covers the North Rigton area near his home, said he had asked for details about both accidents.

"I know all too well about the trauma of accidents like these and want to study reports surrounding both accidents in detail, to see if anything can be done from a road safety issue to try and improve things," he said.

Coun Thomas lost his 30-year-old son, Charles, in a motorbike accident on the A169 Pickering-Whitby Road.

He said the tragedy had helped him understand the feelings of relatives affected by fatal crashes.

Last year he was involved in a campaign to introduce road safety measures on the A61, which includes part of his constituency.

Accidents on the Harrogate-Ripon stretch of the A61 have claimed ten lives in five years, including four in one month. There have been a total of 217 accidents.

Improvements, as part of a £181,500 safety package, have been introduced at Bishop Monkton, Wormald Green, Ripley and the Brearton turn-off. An additional £10,000 has been earmarked to improve road safety through South Stainley