POLICE are appealing for witnesses who may have seen what happened when a motorbike collided with two deer at Sutton Bank. 

A red motorbike hit two deer just before 5pm on Sunday, May 17 on the Helmsley side of Sutton Bank. 

The rider of the bike, a man in his 50s from Hebden Bridge, was taken to York district hospital with minor injuries while the pillion passenger, a man in his 70s also from Hebden Bridge, was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. 

The pillion passenger suffered serious injuries and remains in a serious yet stable condition. 

The road was closed for several hours to allow collision investigators to carry out a full examination of the scene.

North Yorkshire Police officers are appealing for anyone who saw the accident or who saw the bike before the collision to phone 101 or email MCIT@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk quoting reference number 12150081622.