A BURY father-of-two died instantly when he was thrown from his high-powered motorbike on a notorious stretch of moorland road.

Mr Azhar Ahmed's 600cc Yamaha is believed to have clipped the kerb at an accident black-spot in Chorley Old Road, Horwich, on Sunday afternoon (Feb 13).

The 35-year-old of Inglewood Close in Fairfield was catapulted from his machine and sustained multiple injuries.

His brother Fazal said: "It has still not sunk in what has happened. We cannot believe he is gone.

"I worked with Azhar all day on Saturday and he said he was going to go for a ride on his bike on Sunday, something he did quiteregularly."

Mr Ahmed was riding with two friends, all on motorbikes, when he clipped the kerb in Chorley Old Road, near the junction with Walker Fold Road. The trio were returning from a regular bikers meet at Rivington Barn when the accident took place. People in Chorley Old Road said they heard the crash at 4.10pm and ran out of their homes to help. Police closed the road for three hours while accident investigators studied the crash scene.

Officers were still appealing for witnesses today. No other vehicles were involved.

According to relatives, Mr Ahmed was an accomplished rider who had passed his motorbike test 12 months ago.

"Whenever he got the chance to get out on his bike he did," said Fazal, of Shepherd Street, Bury. "He would regularly travel over to Rivington Barn to meet with fellow motorbike enthusiasts. He knew the route very well."

Mr Ahmed moved to Bury in 1969 from Pakistan and was educated in Holy Trinity CE Primary and Broad Oak High School. After leaving school he worked for the post office before becoming an air-steward for UK Leisure based at Manchester Airport.

He then left his job to work in the construction industry before joining the family business, an off-licence in Market Street, Bury, three years ago.

His wife Sultana (28) and his two daughters, aged two and six, were being comforted by relatives.

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