A MOTORCYCLIST who died after a collision with a tractor had been warned by his girlfriend: "That bike will kill you."

Property developer Stephen Durkin, 32, died as he returned from his weekly pilgrimage to Devil's Bridge at Kirby Lonsdale, on Sunday.

He was thrown off his Honda Fireblade machine along with pillion passenger Julie Surples, 39, of Hindle Street, Darwen.

She suffered multiple fractures and is being treated at Lancaster Royal Infirmary where her condition today was comfortable and stable.

Stephen's partner Yvonne Holmes, of Sough Road, Darwen, paid tribute to the popular biker who brought up her 15-year-old daughter Chauntell as his own.

She said: "We have lived together for 12 years. He was kind and considerate and I don't know what we are going to do without him.

"I always said the bike would kill him but it was his pride and joy and he never missed his Sunday ride out to Kirby Lonsdale if the weather was fine."

Stephen owns about 60 homes in the Darwen area along with his business partner, Kevin Holmes, who is Yvonne's brother.

He also leaves parents Ann Metcalf of Darwen, father Lois Durkin of Mill Hill, Blackburn, and two younger sisters.

Yvonne added: "Chauntell and I were showing our horses at the Royal Lancashire Show when it happened, otherwise I could almost certainly have been on the back of the bike.

"He will be missed by a lot of people."

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