A BIKER was left fighting for his life in hospital after a collision involving a coach on Sunday.

His wife was also badly hurt in the accident, which took place on a B-road near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, only hours after a major road safety event in the town.

The motorcyclist, from the Bridlington area, suffered severe head injuries when he was involved in a crash with a 40-seater coach on the B1257 at Bracken Hill Farm at 3.40pm.

The 41-year-old was taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, in a critical condition.

Yesterday, his condition had improved and he was described by police last night as poorly.

His 40-year-old wife, who was riding pillion, suffered a broken wrist and suspected broken leg.

Helmsley had just played host to the Handle It Or Lose It police campaign, which gave out information on how to ride along rural roads safely.

Already this year, 22 bikers have died on the county's roads, a statistic that is only one short of the record number of deaths seen last year.