Appeals for motorcycle accident witnesses.

POLICE accident investigators are appealing for witnesses to two motorcycle incidents in County Durham.

The first was at 5.15pm on Monday opposite Hillside Farm on Elemore Lane in Littletown, to the east of Durham city. A black Suzuki GSXR 1000cc bike travelling towards Easington Lane left the road and went through a hedge into a field.

The rider, a 24-year-old man from Wheatley Hill suffered serious leg and pelvic injuries and has been detained in the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen this bike on the roads between Seaham and Elemore Lane between 4.45pm and the time of the accident to get in touch.

And there is also a witness appeal to an incident near the Shell garage on Yoden Way, Peterlee just before 6.50pm on Monday. A Yamaha 50cc moped collided with a Vauxhall Agila as the car made to turn left onto the garage forecourt.

The 16-year-old rider from Ludworth received serious head injuries and was airlifted to the James Cook Hospital. His condition was described as 'critical but stable'. The driver of the car, a woman, 21, from Hutton Henry was unhurt, as was her father, 52, the front seat passenger.

Anyone who can help with enquiries into either accident should ring the collision investigation unit at police HQ on [phone].