A MAN died after he was in collision with by a car close to the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse.

The accident happened late on Friday night, when a 55-year-old local man was hit by a blue Toyota Corolla, on the road between Newton and Linton-on-Ouse, near Linton Woods Lane.

The pedestrian is thought to have been walking in the carriageway at the time, and was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics.

The road was closed for about four-and-a-half hours while police carried out their investigations.

A Linton Woods Lane resident, who did not want to be named, said: "People have been campaigning for traffic calming measures and 20mph speed restrictions to be put in place along here for a long time.

"There is a lot of strong feeling in the village that the council should be doing more to try and make the place safer for pedestrians.

"I only hope that somebody will start listening and do something about it now."

The dead man is believed to be Paul Smith, a 55-year-old civilian worker at the RAF base, who lived in Linton Woods Lane with his partner, Jean Melladay. Paul's family were too distressed to talk to The Press.

Steve Webb, of Linton-on-Ouse Village Stores, said: "I knew Paul as a regular customer and he was a really good bloke who you could have a laugh with.

"I think everyone in the village is understandably shocked and saddened by what's happened."

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should phone PC Darren Coles of Thirsk Police, or Sergeant Neil Campbell, at the Malton Road Policing Group, on 0845 6060247.

In a separate accident the A19 was closed for two hours after three people were injured in a head on smash near Selby.

The accident happened at about 2pm yesterday on the A19 at the junction with the A63 for Barlby when a Citroen Saxo and a Vauxhall Astra collided.

Two fire crews from Selby attended the scene and had to cut one woman from her vehicle.

Two women and a man suffering from abdominal injuries were taken by ambulance to York Hospital. Police closed the road while investigations were carried out and it was reopened at 4pm.

Updated: 09:05 Monday, May 08, 2006