THE driver of a van which collided with a motorbike killing two people has appeared in Court charged with driving without due care and attention.

Graham Rayner, 37, of The Oval, Skipton, pleaded guilty to the offence at Blackburn Magistrate's Court and was fined £300 with £40 costs. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

The court heard that Stanley Wheatcroft, 62, and his wife Linda, 45, both of Great Harwood, died after the bike they were riding hit the side of Rayner's van as he turned across the road into a car boot sale at Gisburn.

Anthony Mazzag, prosecuting, said Rayner had been in a queue of traffic travelling towards Clitheroe and had stopped to make a right turn into the car boot sale.

"As he made his right turn, he crossed the path of the motorcycle which hit the side of the van and then collided with another vehicle," said Mr Mazzag.

Mark Dyer, defending, said it was a difficult task to mitigate in the aftermath of an accident where there were two fatalities.

"Anything I can say on behalf of Mr Rayner pales into insignificance against the fact that two people died," said Mr Dyer.

"All who were involved in the accident will suffer as a result of what they have experienced."

Mr Dyer said it was important his client was sentenced on the quality and standard of his driving rather than the unforseen circumstances of the accident itself.

"It is quite clear Mr Rayner attempted to make a right turn when it was unsafe for him to do so and as such it is his misjudgement," said Mr Dyer.

"He did see the motorcycle but thought he had sufficient time to make the manoeuvre. He misjudged either the speed or the distance of the motorcycle or both."

He said the road traffic investigator's report had been unable to give the exact speed of the motorcycle but had established that it was doing at least 42mph.

Mr Dyer said Rayner, a foreman with an Ilkley building company, had an impeccable driving record and had not committed any offences in 15 years.

"I ask you to view this as a one-off incident with catastrophic consequences which could not necessarily have been forseen," he added.

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