A woman riding as a passenger on a motorbike has died following a crash in Darlington last night.

The incident happened on Yarm Road in the town shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday (February 28).

The woman, who has not been named, was a passenger on the motorbike and died at the scene.

The driver of the motorbike has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody at this time.

The Northern Echo: Pictures from the scene on Yarm Road, Darlington.

Durham Police said the woman’s family is being supported by specialist officers and no-one else was injured.

An investigation is underway.

The road reopened on Thursday (February 29) morning after it was closed for several hours on Wednesday (February 28) night.

One eyewitness reported that local business users were warned to not leave the premises.

They said: "I was trying to drive back through Yarm Road to get to the Snap Fitness Gym and that's when I realised the road was closed.

"I spoke to the police at around 6:15pm and they said nobody is allowed in or out."

They added that "nobody is allowed to exit from the Toby Carvery, Snap Fitness Gym or Travelodge".

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A force spokesperson said: “Anyone with any information is asked to email Durham Constabulary via sciu@durham.police.uk quoting incident reference 363 of February 28.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic collision today (28 February) at 5:37pm on Yarm Road in Darlington.

"We dispatched two ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and one doctor to the incident."