A MOTORCYCLIST was killed in an horrific rush hour accident on the A64 near York.

It brings the number of biker fatalities in North Yorkshire this year to 26 - the worst toll on record in the county.

The accident happened within hours of a report being published, calling for the A64 to be completely dualled - a measure that was forecast to reduce road traffic deaths by 22 per cent and serious casualties by 57 per cent. The Suzuki motorcycle was travelling towards York on the A64 near Stockton-on-the-Forest when it collided head-on with a German-registered Mercedes car at Towthorpe crossroads at 5.50pm.

The motorcyclist, thought to be aged in his 20s and from the York area, was taken by ambulance to York Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The car driver was shaken, but uninjured.

Sergeant Nigel Atkinson, of the North Yorkshire road policing group, said it was too early to say how the collision occurred.

He said: "The motorcycle is believed to have been travelling towards York when it collided with a Mercedes travelling in the opposite direction.

"It was a Friday evening at peak time and there was consistent traffic in all directions. There were a number of drivers involved."

The number of motorcyclists killed on North Yorkshire's roads is the worst on record, three more than the 23 who died last year.

Insp Atkinson said: "I despair. We have made every effort through enforcement and education to cut the number of accidents, and it still happens. Visiting the next of kin - that's the hardest part."

Police are appealing for the driver of a green-coloured Volkswagen car, possibly a Polo, to come forward as he is thought to have witnessed the crash and might hold vital information.

The A64 was blocked in both directions for several hours. Diversions were set up causing severe traffic tailbacks on the A64 and around York.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, September 20, 2003