TWO people were killed and several seriously injured in road accidents across the region at the weekend.

Gavin Wood, 20, of Macbeth Walk, in Horden, died from his injuries three hours after his car was in collision with a bus on the A1086 road at Castle Eden Burn, between Blackhall and Horden, east Durham, on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning, a motorcyclist died in North Yorkshire when the Kawasaki 600cc machine he was riding was involved in a collision with three cars on the B1363 Wigginton road, just north of York.

Another motorcyclist was said by hospital staff to be in a critical condition last night after his machine was in collision with a stationary car on the B6277, near Eastfield Farm, Mickleton, Barnard Castle, on Saturday at 6.20pm.

The 37-year-old man, who lives in Barnard Castle, was last night in Darlington Memorial Hospital where his injuries were described as life threatening.

Elsewhere, ten members of a family were taken to hospital after their Volkswagen people carrier left the A1 Western Bypass and crashed 30ft down an embankment at Hazelrigg, Newcastle.

One adult was left seriously ill with spinal injuries. A second adult and eight children were detained overnight in hospital, although most of their injuries were said to be minor.

Witnesses to the accident, which occurred on the southbound carriageway of the A1, at 10.40pm on Saturday, are asked to contact Northumbria Police, on (01661) 872555, extension 62779.

Witnesses to the fatal motorbike accident near York are asked to contact police on (01904) 631321; while witnesses to the east Durham and Mickleton crashes can contact Durham Constabulary's accident investigation unit on 0191-386 4929.

A motorist suffered serious head injuries after his car overturned on the A694 at Hamsterley Mill, near Consett, at 4.50pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old woman suffered spinal and neck injuries in a two-car collision near the Newton Grange pub in Newton Hall, Durham, at 1.30pm on Saturday.

The accident occurred an hour after a 34-year-old man suffered severe leg injuries when he was knocked off his bike in an accident on the B6352 road, between Durham and Sacriston.