POLICE are appealing for the driver of a white 4x4 vehicle to come forward after a motorcyclist and passenger died in a road traffic collision near Nappa on Sunday.

The accident happened at around 11.50am on the A682 and involved a blue Suzuki motorbike which was being driven from Long Preston towards Gisburn.

The rider, a 50-year-old man from Liverpool, was wearing black leathers and a black helmet. The pillion passenger, a 45-year-old woman, also from Liverpool, was wearing black leathers and a white helmet.

Both were declared dead at the scene.

It is believed that the 4x4 vehicle, which was towing a caravan, had been overtaken by the motorbike shortly before the collision.

The road was closed for five hours following the incident.

Traffic Sergeant Andy Morton, of North Yorkshire's Roads Policing Group, said: “If anyone was driving a vehicle matching the description of the four by four seen in area at the time, I urge them to come forward straight away as they may have vital information which could assist our enquiries.

“I am also keen to speak to anyone else who was in the area at the time and may have seen the motorcycle prior to the incident and ask them to get in touch.”

Anyone with information which could help this investigation should contact Skipton police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Paul Cockerill. Alternatively, information can be emailed to paul.cockerill@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference number 12140149036.