A motorcyclist died at the weekend after crashing into a wall on a remote dales road.

Police said Richard Stothard, 37, from South Hylton, Sunderland, failed to negotiate a bend on the winding C27 road between St John's Chapel, in Upper Weardale, and Langdon Beck, in Teesdale.

He was alone on a Yamaha FZ 750 when it smashed into a stone wall about 2. 40pm on Sunday.

He was taken to University Hospital, Durham, where he died from his injuries. No other vehicle was involved.

Accident investigators appealed for witnesses yesterday. Contact them at police headquarters in Durham, telephone 0191-386-4929.