A MOTORCYCLIST was killed and a family of five injured in a collision in North Yorkshire.

The biker was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while the family members - two adults and three children - were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The accident happened on the A170, between Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale, yesterday afternoon, at about 1.30pm.

The biker was the second to die in three days on North Yorkshire's roads.

Yesterday's crash happened as heavy traffic clogged many routes on the first sunny spring Sunday of the year. Both vehicles were travelling in the same direction, from Pickering towards Thornton-le-Dale.

The Ford Focus is believed to have been turning right at a junction when the collision occurred.

The rear offside of the Ford was badly damaged, with the bike very compacted. The vehicle was facing the opposite direction to travel when it came to rest.

The family travelling in the car were taken by ambulance to have their injuries checked at Scarborough Hospital.

Police Sergeant Geoff Brown, of North Yorkshire Police, who was in charge of the scene, said: "Understandably they were all very shaken.

"Most of the impact was towards the back of the vehicle, so it was very frightening for the children."

The road was closed for several hours with diversions causing large tailbacks to the Sunday afternoon traffic for miles around.

The roads in the area were particularly busy with traffic including many motorcyclists taking advantage of the sunny weather.

Police are now appealing for anyone who saw the silver Ford car or the blue and white Suzuki motorcycle before or during the incident.

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire police on 01723 500 300, with information passed to PC 173 Barratt.

Police today revealed that the motorcyclist killed in a road accident near Thorpe Willoughby on Friday was a 29-year-old Pontefract man.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident, a York man in a Mercedes people carrier, was arrested, and has now been bailed by police.

Updated: 10:24 Monday, March 17, 2003