A RENEWED appeal was made last night for witnesses to a head-on crash in which a motorcyclist was killed.

Gary Thomas Stainsby was declared dead at the scene of the accident, on the A1086 Thorpe Road, on the outskirts of Horden, east Durham, on Friday.

Mr Stainsby, 38, of Cotsford Park Estate, in Horden, worked in a customer services department.

He was riding a silver Triumph motorcycle which was involved in a collision with a blue Seat Cordoba car, opposite Horden Hall, about 200-metres east of Horden's Crossways Estate.

A Durham Police spokesman said the accident took place as the motorcycle, heading eastwards, overtook a lorry and a pedal cycle, before crashing head-on into the Cordoba, travelling in the opposite direction.

The 34-year-old driver from Easington Colliery, was cut free from his car by firefighters and taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool by air ambulance suffering back injuries, which were not said to be serious.

Police closed the road for more than three hours to remove the debris and to allow for an examination of the accident scene.

Witnesses in the vicinity of the incident, at 10.45am on Friday, are asked to contact Durham Police's accident investigation unit, on 0191-375 2159, or 0800 606 0365.

* A separate appeal was made by police investigating the death of a 20-year-old motorist after the Mazda car he was driving left a road and struck a tree in Harbour View, East Sleekburn, near Bedlington, Northumberland.

All four occupants were taken to hospital, but the driver, who has yet to be named by police, was later declared dead.

Witnesses to the accident, at 7.30pm on Friday, are asked to ring motor patrols officers on (01661) 872555.