A motorcyclist died and two people were taken to hospital following a crash near Carlisle.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened at Orton cross roads near Great Orton, west of the city.

The crash between a car and a motorbike happened at 1.35pm yesterday and left the road closed for five hours.

The vehicles involved were a blue and white Suzuki GSXR motorbike and a white Nissan Juke.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by air ambulance paramedics.

The car ended up on its side and firefighters had to cut the male and female occupants, both aged 49, free.

They were then taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance Service confirmed that it had a helicopter and crew at the scene.

Firefighters from Carlisle's two fire stations - in Eastern Way and Brookside, Raffles - were also part of the emergency response.

A spokesman for Blue Watch said that crews helped free two casualties - a man and a woman - from the front of the car which had overturned.

"We helped extricate two casualties from the car and they were transferred to the Cumberland Infirmary," he added.

Police conducted detailed investigations at the scene before reopening the road.

They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or saw either vehicle prior to the collision to come forward. Call police on 101.