A MAN told today how he escaped with his life from a horror crash on a North Yorkshire road - thanks to his horse.

Warwick Romans, 62, was driving his horse and cart on the A162 Sherburn-in-Elmet bypass when he was in a collision with a motorbike.

The biker was killed instantly as his machine, a Suzuki 750cc, burst into flames and melted within seconds.

Mr Romans, of New Lane, Sherburn-in-Elmet, was saved because his horse bolted and pulled him clear.

He was taken to hospital, where he was treated for shock and bruising to his ribs, back, knees and arms.

His horse was later found grazing in a nearby field, after escaping with grazes to its knees and nose.

Mr Romans said: "I managed to escape because the cart disintegrated on impact and I managed to keep hold of the reins.

"By keeping hold of the horse, it threw me clear of the cart and I ended up on the road with the shafts.

"I then had to let go of the reins and the horse went across the road between passing cars and into a nearby field, with the shafts still coupled to him."

Mr Romans said that as he travelled along the bypass, heading towards South Milford, a man he knew was walking behind the cart, stopping the traffic when necessary. The tragedy happened at about 9.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday. The bypass had to be closed for almost 17 hours.

Mr Romans, a self-employed wagon driver, said they had been to Church Fenton in the afternoon. After giving a couple of people a ride on the cart, they headed back home.

He said: "We were only about 40 yards from the track leading to the field. There were two or three cars coming towards me and the next thing I knew I was on the road.

"Me and the horse will repair. Unfortunately, the other person involved won't."

Traffic Sergeant Mick Crome, who was at the scene, said Mr Romans and his horse were lucky to be alive.

The name of the dead biker, a 29-year-old Castleford man, has not yet been released.

It is understood he was on his way to work at a supermarket depot at Sherburn-in-Elmet, and that some of his horrified workmates, travelling in cars, were among the witnesses.

A second motorcyclist who died in an accident on a North Yorkshire road on Bank Holiday Monday has been named as Paul Michael Clayton, 30, of Leeds. He was killed when his motorbike was in collision with a cattle trailer being towed by a pick-up on an unclassified road between Greenhow and Blubberhouses, near Harrogate.

An inquest on Mr Clayton, of Harrogate Road, Moortown, has been opened and adjourned.

Motorcyclist Jonathan Stokes, 38, of Scarborough, died on Saturday following a collision on the A171 between Scarborough and Whitby.

Updated: 10:31 Thursday, May 06, 2004