AN inquest opened yesterday into the death of a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger, who were involved in a collision with a minibus.

The accident happened when the bike and the minibus collided at the junction of Beacon Lane and Stockton Road, on the A689 at Sedgefield, County Durham, on September 5 last year.

The inquest, at Teesside Coroner's Court, heard that motorcyclist James Cooper, 20, of Thames Road, Billingham, died in the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, three weeks after the collision.

His pillion passenger, Elizabeth Munt, also 20 and from Billingham, died in the University Hospital of North Tees, in Hartlepool, three days after the accident.

Minibus driver David Cook, from Fishburn, County Dur-ham, and his three passengers all suffered shock.

The inquest was told that the weather at the time of the accident was fine and that the roads were dry.

Neither driver had any trace of alcohol or drugs in his body.

The accident happened as the minibus attempted to cross the dual carriageway from the junction.

Coach driver Michael Sullivan, from Washington, Wearside, who saw the crash, told the coroner he had been parked in a side-road when he heard a motorbike changing gear and looked up.

He said: "I could hear the bike changing gear and so looked up and just as I did so, I saw the bike hit the side of the minibus.

"The bus spun around until it was facing the motorbike and the driver got out.

"I ran off my coach to give assistance and told the minibus driver to move his bus as the bike was on fire.

"Both of us then pulled the lad free away from the fire, whilst somebody else saw to the girl."

It is not thought either the minibus driver or Mr Cooper were speeding.

Coroner Michael Sheffield adjourned the inquest until Wednesday morning.