THE A65 between Skipton and Kirkby Lonsdale has been named as one of the riskiest roads in the country.

The road is one of 13 routes in the UK singled out as a danger for motorcyclists, who see it as a favourite because of its challenging nature and its scenery.

Two bikers died on the A65 near Skipton and Settle last August. Between 2000 and 2002 there were 23 fatal and serious accidents on the road involving motorcyclists.

But the study, by the AA-Trust led European Road Assessment Programme, says bikers are not entirely to blame for the high rate of deaths and injuries.

Many were innocent victims of unforgiving road design.

Four out of ten bikers were killed at junctions, most in collisions with cars and in more than half the cases, the car driver was at fault.

The trust is now calling for more biker-friendly crash barriers to be erected on bends and near junctions.

North Yorkshire Police is running a get-tough policy against speeding bikers after 28 died and 180 were injured in the county last year.

It involves fast tracking the worst offenders through court.