THE inquests opened today into the deaths of a couple whose Vauxhall Grandland car left the A629 Skipton bypass and plunged over metal barriers onto a track adjacent to Broughton Road and near the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Michael Booth, 72, died at the scene of the collision which occurred on Saturday, October 21 at around 1.20pm.

His wife, Joyce, 74, died shortly afterwards in Airedale General Hospital from her injuries.

The couple were from Silsden, near Keighley.

The inquest was formally opened and then adjourned to a later date by North Yorkshire coroner Jon Heath.

For some, the incident has brought back memories of the January 2007 tragedy in which a lorry driver died when her curtain-sided vehicle plunged more than 30 feet off the Skipton bypass during high winds, landing partly in the canal below, very close to the location of the recent of the tragedy.

Councillor Andy Solloway, (Independent, Skipton West) for North Yorkshire Council, has called for a review of the road barriers which he believes could have been in place since the bypass was built 40 years ago.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the single vehicle collision. The vehicle carrying Mr and Mrs Booth was travelling south on the bypass in the direction of Keighley from the Gargrave Road roundabout.

Any witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage is asked to contact TC 123 Geri Tunney at North Yorkshire Police, either via 101 or email geri.tunney@northyorkshire.police.uk. Quote reference number 12230200190.