A MOTORCYCLIST missing from home for two days was found dead in a ditch by a country lane early yesterday.

Kevin Dixon's body was found near his machine in the ditch by Moor Lane, near York, between the villages of Murton and Stockton-on-the-Forest, at about 4.30am.

The 21-year-old, from Osbaldwick, was reported missing early on Thursday morning and police, together with some of his friends and family, had combed the road network in North and West Yorkshire looking for him.

An officer patrolling the Murton area in the early hours of yesterday noticed a large gap in the hedge on Moor Lane and investigated.

Initially, he could not see anything, but when he walked alongside the ditch he found Mr Dixon's body close to his Yamaha motorbike.

Inspector Andy Everitt said: "What is unusual is that he has come off on a straight piece of road. This made it difficult to find him as he was not visible from the road.

"We cannot comment on the cause of the accident and we do not know when the accident happened."

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw a motorcyclist on a blue bike in the area.

Officers are also keen to trace anyone who uses the road regularly and who may know when the gap in the hedge appeared.

Officers from the police accident investigation unit were at the scene for about three hours.

Anyone who has information is asked to contact police on (01904) 631321.