POLICE who searched two counties for a motorcyclist missing since Wednesday made the tragic discovery of his body in a country lane near York today.

Kevin Dixon, aged 21, from Osbaldwick, had not been seen by his family for two nights.

Officers, joined by Kevin's friends and family, had combed the road network in North and West Yorkshire until his body was found, along with his bike, in a ditch in Moor Lane, between Murton and Stockton-on-the Forest, at 4.30am today.

It is not yet known when the accident happened, and police cannot yet say whether he was killed instantly.

Kevin's family reported he was missing at 6.30am on Thursday, prompting the massive search by police and Kevin's friends and family.

An officer patrolling the Murton area in the early hours of today noticed a large gap in the hedge on Moor Lane and investigated.

Although he could not see anything, he walked alongside the ditch where he found Kevin's body close to his blue Yamaha motorbike.

Inspector Andy Everitt of North Yorkshire police said: "What is unusual is that he has come off on a straight piece of road.

"This made it difficult to find him as he was not visible from the road.

"We cannot comment on the cause of the accident and we do not know when the accident happened."

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw a motorcyclist on a blue bike in the area. At the time of the accident Kevin was wearing a blue jacket, beige trousers and a white crash helmet.

Officers are also keen to trace anyone who uses the road regularly and who may know when the large gap in the hedge appeared.

Officers from the police's Accident Investigation Unit were at the scene for about three hours this morning. Investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing.

The road, which was closed from 4.30am, reopened at 10am.

Anyone who has information should contact Sgt Graham Carroll on 01904 631321.

Police are trying to trace a couple who could have "vital information" about a crash in which two men were killed.

Driver Steven John Lamb, 23, of Harrogate, and passenger David Christopher Farrell, 19, of Ripon, died when their Peugeot 205 GTI was in collison with a red Audi, driven by John Bruce Chalmers, of Leeds, at about 9.20pm on Tuesday on the A61 Ripon road, between Wormald Green and South Stainley. Mr Chalmers is in hospital with serious pelvic and chest injuries.

Police want to trace a man and woman who were travelling in a blue lorry, laden with straw, which was one of the first vehicles to arrive at the scene of the accident. It is believed the pair, who may have been a married couple and were believed to be travelling to Rawtenstall, Lancashire, could have seen the red Audi shortly before it was involved in the crash.

They spoke to officers at the scene, but police want to speak to them again.

Updated: 13:20 Friday, June 28, 2002