Tragedy in Northern Ireland

Talented road racer Malachi Mitchell-Thomas has died following a following a crash at the North West 200 motorcycle races.

The 20 year-old from Chorley in Lancashire crashed during the third lap of the Supertwins race on the approach to Black Hill this afternoon (Saturday).

He was treated by medical staff but succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

No other riders were involved in the incident.

Mitchell-Thomas, who was riding for the Cookstown BE Racing team, won last year’s Senior Manx Grand Prix and was tipped to have a promising future.

His death comes just 24 hours after the funeral of Laxey rider Billy Redmayne, one of the other up and coming stars of road racing.