POLICE are calling for safety measures on a road which has claimed the lives of a number of motorcyclists over the years after the death of a biker who collided with a bus.

They are asking for a 30mph limit on the A682 between Nelson and Gisburn to be extended together with more double white lines.

An inquest at Reedley heard that John Liversedge, 42, of Charter Street, Accrington, was killed when his Honda 1100 machine was in collision with a bus near the Moorcock pub at Blacko.

He was following his brother, Robert William Ellison, of Padiham, when the accident happened.

The inquest was told they were not travelling at excessive speed but that the machine crossed over the centre line near a bend and collided with the bus which then went on to hit a car.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor commented: "It appears from the evidence that it was a tragic error of judgement."

PC Timothy Hitchen said the accident occurred at 10am on Saturday, May 26, when the motorcycle travelling towards Gisburn was in a collision with a 23-seater bus going in the opposite direction.

The bus went on to collide with a blue Peugeot car knocking it into a wall. The bus continued further down the road into another wall.

Pathologist Dr Zuhair Twaij said cause of death was multiple injuries to the head, spine, legs and ribs.

Accident investigator PC Tim Hogan said the motor cycle had been on the wrong side of the road immediately prior to the accident.

Maria Mahon of Warrington said her brother had used motorcycles in his younger days and taken it up again two years ago. He had retaken his motor cycle test.

Bus driver Barry George Towneley, 46, of Highfield Road, Clitheroe, told the inquest: "There was no room to manoeuvre, I couldn't take any action or anything."

After the inquest, traffic sergeant Eric Marshall said police were asking for the 30mph limit to be extended from Blacko village towards the Moorcock and for the double white line system also to be extended.

He said: "This has been a problem road for us and we want to do as much as we can to prevent further fatalities."

Over the years speed abuse by some bikers had been a disturbing feature.

Some have been known to travel on the road at speeds approaching 100mph.