POLICE are appealing for a vital witness to come forward following a crash in North Yorkshire which left a motorcyclist seriously injured.

The crash, which happened at about 12.30pm on Sunday on the B6271 between Northallerton and Yafforth, near Northdale Horticulture, involved a red Peugeot 406, heading out of Northallerton, and a motorcycle, which was one of a group of three bikes heading towards the town. As a result of the collision, the 19-year-old biker, from Sand Hutton, near Thirsk, was taken to James Cook University Hospital with serious injuries. He is currently in a stable but critical condition, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The 52-year-old man from Darlington driving the Peugeot was arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail to allow to allow for further inquiries.

Police want to speak to the driver of a dark-coloured car which stopped at the time of the collision.