TWO people died and four were seriously injured in a weekend of mayhem on North and East Yorkshire roads.

A motorcyclist from the York area and the driver of a Jaguar car were killed in separate incidents, as the region witnessed no fewer than four serious accidents.

A biker was also fighting for his life after being involved in a head-on collision with the Jaguar.

The Jaguar driver was travelling from Biggin, and the biker from Sherburn-in-Elmet, when the accident happened on the B1222 Bishopdyke Road, close to the Sherburn Industrial Estate, at about 11.15am yesterday.

The car crumpled and the driver, a local man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 29-year-old biker, who came from Wakefield, was thrown a considerable distance by the impact.

His Yamaha motorcycle flew into a nearby field and debris was strewn across the road.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by Yorkshire Air Ambulance and his condition is described as "life-threatening".

A second motorcyclist suffered a suspected broken leg when he swerved his Yamaha machine from the road to avoid the other vehicles.

Police said the man is in his 40s and is from Pontefract.

He was taken to York Hospital by paramedics and was today said to be "comfortable".

The road was closed between the Half Moon Inn and the roundabout leading to Sherburn Industrial Estate until 7pm while investigating officers cleared the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to phone TC Andrew Tucker on 01904 669884.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man from the York area was killed after he appeared to have lost control of his motorcycle on the B1251 in East Yorkshire.

Police said the man, riding a Suzuki GSX 750 motorcycle, was travelling west from Sledmere towards the village of Fimber, when he sustained fatal injuries after colliding with a clump of trees at the side of the road.

The accident happened at about 4.05pm, yesterday, and police are appealing for witnesses to phone them on 01482 597900. A motorcyclist and his 11-year-old pillion passenger also suffered serious injuries yesterday after their silver and black Harley Davidson was involved in a collision on the B6161 Otley Road at Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate.

The pair were part of a group of people riding similar machines taking part in an organised ride when the accident occurred outside Shawfield Head Farm at 10.55am.

They were taken to Harrogate District Hospital.

Police would like to speak to the occupants of a red or maroon-coloured car, possibly a Ford Fiesta, which was believed to be in the area at the time.

Anyone with information should phone TC Andrew Stole on 01423 539326. The rider of a red Honda motorcycle suffered serious injuries in an accident on the A171 at Kirk Moor Beck, near Whitby, at 3.40pm yesterday.

The rider, a man in his 40s from the Middlesbrough area, was travelling towards Whitby, when his machine was in collision with a blue Vauxhall Astra travelling in the opposite direction, driven by a woman in her 50s from London.

Any witnesses are asked to phone TC Dan Hughes on 01723 509555. The road was closed until after 9pm.

Three cars were involved in an accident on the A1 southbound at Walshford, near Wetherby, yesterday afternoon.

Those involved suffered only minor injuries.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, July 19, 2004