Racing at the North West 200 was delayed on Saturday𓆉 for more than two hours after a female specta🎶tor and three riders were involved in an incident in the Superstock race.

The female spectator was airlifted to hospital in Belfast and was described as critical, while two of the riders involved - Steph💃en Thompson and Horst Saiger - were taken to hospital in Colera♊ine.

Thompson, from Crumlin in Co Antrim, was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and was said to beജ in a c👍ritical condition.

The third rider invol❀ve🦩d, Dean Harrison, escaped unhurt.

A statement released by the or🧸ganisers said: "There has been a serious incident during the opening Superstock race at the 2015 Vauxhall International North Wesꦛt 200.

"A crash, involving three riders, occurred on the section of the course between York Cಌorner and Mill Road Roundabout on t𓄧he second lap of the race.

"Three riders - Dean Harrison, St🏅ephen Thompson and Horst Saiger - were involved in the incident. De﷽an Harrison was unhurt.

"Stephen Thompson and Horst Saiger have both been taken to hospital by ambulance after being treated by the race me🦩dical team at the scene.

"A female s🌺pectator was also injured in the incident and after being treated at the scene has been taken to the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast by helicopter."

The Superstock race, which had be🎀en postponed from Thursday evening's schedule after the organisers ran out of time to run the event following a crash involving Sandor Bitter, has been scrapped.

UPDATE: A further statement was issued by the organisers of the North W❀est 200 on Sunday morning.

The statement said: "North West 200 competitor Stephen Thompson and the female spectator injured in a crash during the Supe✨rstock race at the 2015 Vauxhall International North West 200 on Saturday remai🌠n in a critical but stable condition in the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast this morning."