A BIKER who was killed when he collided with a car is to have his ashes scattered over the the Isle of Man race track he loved.

Rose Marsden, 47, of Ribble Lane, Chatburn, last saw her 52-year-old husband Alan at 4.45pm on Saturday as he was setting off to the popular Devil's Bridge area in Kirkby Lonsdale where bikers gather.

At 9.30pm that evening, a police officer called to say her husband had been killed on his way home at the Paythorne junction of the Sawley road in Wigglesworth, after his Honda CBR 600 had collided with a green Honda Accord.

Mr Marsden worked as an overhead crane operator at Castle Cement, Clitheroe, and was also known locally as an amateur photographer who had also contributed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The distraught Mrs Marsden and her father-in-law Kenneth Marsden were taken by police to see her husband's body at Airedale Hospital, Keighley, where she confirmed his identity.

She said: "I desparately needed to see him there and he looked peaceful.

"I understand he was pronounced dead on arrival, though I'm not exactly sure what his injuries were.

"It was all fairly quick and, if I think about it, I was relieved he wasn't suffering in an Intensive Care Unit."

Mr Marsden had been a biker since his teens and got his first licence 36 years ago. He went as often as he could to the Manx Grand Prix and was a Marshal at the TT Raceson the island.

He had also developed his interest in photography in the 1980s and was a member of Ribblesdale Camera Club for nearly 20 years. Mrs Marsden added: "He loved bikes and enjoyed the company and I remember him telling me to remember that if anything should happen to him in a biking accident, he had at least been doing what he really loved and at least he would have been happy before an accident.

"He told me he wanted to have his ashes scattered over Goose Neck bend at the Isle of Man TT course and that is what we intend to do. He will be greatly missed"

His son, David Marsden, 28, of Rothwell Avenue, Accrington, said: "Dad was aware that there was a risk on a motorbike.

"The junction where it happened is known locally to be difficult because it's difficult to see when a driver pulls out, though we don't know what exactly happened in this case."

A police spokesman said they were investigating the causes. She said: "Anyone who saw either vehicle involved in the crash should contact Skipton Road Traffic Department on 01423 539726.