A popular motorcycle route along the B6255 in the Yorkshire Dales has claimed the lives of two motorcyclists who reportedly crashed into each other head on.

The Westmoreland Gazette reports that the accident occurred on Sunday (23/05/10) morning at around 10.36am, when the two bikers were involved in a head on collision on the road between Hawes and Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

The bikers – one riding a black Kawasaki and the other a white Honda motorbike – died at the scene.

The rider of the white Honda has been named as 40-year-old Nick Cowell from Longridge in Lancashire.

The rider of the black Kawasaki was aged 33 and came from Halifax, West Yorkshire. His name has not yet been released.

The family of Nick Cowell has paid tribute to him – Mr Cowell was married and the father of three daughters, twins aged 13 and a nine year-old girl. Mr Cowell came from a farming family and his brother Anthony said the family was ‘devastated’ by his death. Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Mr Cowell said:

‘His family always came first and he had a passion for motorcycling which he had done for the past 23 years.’

The stretch of road along the B6255 has been the scene of other fatal motorbike accidents in recent years and is especially popular with bikers during the summer months.

Police are appealing for any motorists travelling along the stretch of road near the time of the crash to come forward as they may have vital information about the crash.

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