MOURNERS heard that a larger-than-life veteran biker who lived life to the full died the way he would have wanted - on his beloved motorbike.

Arthur Lofthouse died in a road accident seven years after his son died in a TT warm-up race, and yesterday around 350 people turned up to say their farewells.

Family, friends and motorbiking pals packed into the chapel at Accrington Crematorium, in Burnley Road, Accrington, with many more listening to the humanist service outside on loudspeakers.

The 67-year-old's body was carried into the chapel to one of his favourite Queen songs - I Want It All. Another Queen song, The Show Must Go On, played mourners out of the chapel.

His four-year-old pet spaniel Moss was brought to the service by members of Mr Lofthouse's family, and will now be looked after by Mr Lofthouse's son Peter in Germany.

Mr Lofthouse, of Hygiene, Clayton-le-Moors died while on his last ride before selling his Suzuki GSX R1000. He lost control of the bike while riding in Darlington, and hit a stone wall. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His son Michael Lofthouse - a friend of four-times world Superbike champion Carl Fogarty and current world champ Neil Hodgson - died aged 28 in a TT practice race May 1996.

Mr Hodgson sent a message of condolence to relatives, saying Mr Lofthouse would be able to join his son now.

He said: "It seems really sad. I know he was heartbroken when Michael was killed. Biking is such a passionate part of the family and they have both given their lives to their passion. At least he will be joining Michael."

The service was conducted by Hayward Lynn Millard, of the British Humanist Association.

He said: "Arthur was a very very strong character and a very difficult act to follow. He was a man who did his own thing - nobody and nothing got in his way. He lived life as he wanted to do.

"He was very adventurous and was a man with no airs and graces - what you saw was what you got.

"He died exactly the way he wanted to die. He always said when his time came he wanted it to be on a motorbike and that's what happened."