A daughter wept this week as she pleaded for help in tracing a hit-and-run biker who killed her father.

Ralph Snowdon, 66, of York, was killed in the crash on Saturday afternoon on the B1257 near Chop Gate.

The innocent motorcyclist was bit by another bike, whose rider did not stop at the scene. Mr Snowdon was killed instantly.

His daughter, Mandy, told a press conference on Wednesday: "I feel lost and lonely and I have been robbed of my dad.

"Somebody out there must know who this man is - so please come forward."

Mr Snowdon was one of three motorcyclists travelling towards Stokesley from Helmsley on the B1257 at about 4.50.

The accident happened as they pulled out to overtake a Volkswagen Polo, about a quarter of a mile from Chop Gate.

A rider on a red sports bike, heading the opposite way, forced Mr Snowdon off the road.

Police have revealed that this rider took a racing line through the right hand bend - which meant he was on the wrong side of the road and on the nearside of Mr Snowdon's bike when they crashed.

The rider of the red machine then forced a second motorcyclist in Mr Snowdon's party to swerve into the VW car.

This biker was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with serious but not life-threatening, injuries.

The road was closed for 7 hours. The B1257 has been the subject of intense controversy because of speeding motorcyclists.

Bilsdale Midcable Parish Council said it had been pressing for additional road safety precautions for years, including additional speed restrictions and double white lines at the worst bends on the B1257.

Chairman Coun Bill Brass said: "At the council's annual meeting, we had been trying to establish why our request for 40mph buffer zones for the entrances to Chop Gate village had still not been implemented, although this had already been considered by both the highways department and the police.

"Lives are more important than how the countryside looks, and these measures are not particularly expensive to put into effect."

Caroline Seymour, the new county councillor for Bilsdale, said that there had been an opponent to the additional road signing."However, many other rural villages have 40mph buffer zones, which are intended to slow traffic before it reaches the 30mph zone."

Police said the rider of the sporting machine showed no regard for other road users.

They are taking the offence so seriously that the officer in charge is one who normally deals with murder investigations.

Det Supt Barry Honeysett said the hit-and-run biker had been driving in an outrageous manner.

He had slowed for a brief time after the second accident, and then sped off. "To my mind it is inconceivable that he was unaware he had been involved in an accident."

Posters have been circulated in the area and a police team is to visit the Croft superbike meeting this weekend.

The rider, who police believe is male, could have injuries to the left side of his body and there is a strong possibility his machine was badly damaged.

Motorbike repairers are asked to contact police if they are approached to work on a large red sports bike.

Police also want to speak to the rider of a red Ducatti sports bike seen driving slowly past the Jinnah Restaurant on the A64 between York and Malton at 6pm that day.

He was wearing a black crash helmet and police want to eliminate him from inquiries.

Anyone who can help the police should ring 0845 6060247