ANOTHER biker died on North Yorkshire's roads over the weekend, taking the death toll to one higher than the whole of last year.

Twenty-four motorcyclists have died in the county this year compared with 23 last year - despite concerted police attempts to keep the numbers down.

High-profile patrols, a clampdown on speeding and illegal modifications, an educational video and an exhibition of the wreckage from accidents have all been arranged over the past 12 months.

However, almost 50 people have now lost their lives in motorcycle accidents in North Yorkshire over the past 21 months - so many police traffic patrols have admitted they dread sunny weekends as a fatality has become almost inevitable.

The latest casualty was leading a group of five bikers along the B6270 Reeth to Richmond road when his machine left the road a mile from the junction with the A6108 at about 3pm on Saturday.

His identity has not been confirmed.

The circumstance of the accident are still being investigated and police have appealed for witnesses who may remember seeing the group around the time of the accident to come forward.

Anyone who can help with the inquiry can contact PC David Shotton on (01609) 789334.

* A motorcyclist died in an accident in Teesdale, in County Durham, yesterday.

The rider was travelling on the B6276 road 200 metres west of Low Plantation Farm, Selset Reservoir, at 1.30pm, when he lost control of his machine and slid for approximately 100 metres before coming to a stop against a wall.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to telephone Durham Constabulary's accident investigation unit on 0191-386 4929.