FRIENDS have paid tribute to a popular family man who died after a motorcycle crash at the weekend.

Richard Fenner, better known as Andy, lived in Reedsholme Road, Rawtenstall, with his wife Jane and six-year-old son Matthew.

Today, friends John Baldwin and Melinda Holden, who were riding with him when the accident happened on Sunday at Quernmore, near Lancaster, paid tribute to Mr Fenner. Another rider, Michael Hall, 26, of Fulwood, Preston, who was travelling in the opposite direction, died after his Honda CBR collided with Mr Fenner's Honda Fireblade.

Mr Baldwin and Mrs Holden, riding together on a Yamaha, were knocked off their bike by Mr Hall's machine.

Mrs Holden, who suffered cuts and bruises in the accident, said: "We have lost our best friend. He was a very kind man. The first thing in his life was his family and the second thing was his bike."

The couple, of Highergate Close, Huncoat, worked alongside Mr Fenner, who was a print estimator at Marks & Spencer Print in Burnley.

Mr Baldwin, who suffered suspected cracked ribs and a broken collarbone, said: "We were riding along behind Andy when I just saw a white flash come over a small brow in the road. It seemed to happen very fast and the bike collided with Andy. Then we hit the bike that had collided with Andy."

Mr Baldwin said: "When I started work with Andy about three years ago he was already into motorcycling. It gave him a thrill. Over the last couple of years he became absolutely addicted to it.

"He was a very safe and a very competent rider. He never took risks because he always rode with his family and his little lad Matthew in mind."

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