HORRIFIED pub diners fought in vain to save a motorcyclist's life after a crash and petrol tank explosion shook an East Lancashire restaurant.

Gisburn-bound rider, William David Nutter, 36, was thrown along the road after losing control on a bend outside the Moorcock Inn, Blacko.

His Suzuki R1100 slid under the front of an oncoming Nissan Patrol and exploded in flames.

Lunchtime diners and staff raced to help to the stricken rider in the road as others used the inn's extinguishers to tackle the blaze.

Ambulance paramedics also fought to save Mr Nutter, of Bank Terrace, Simonstone, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

Police closed the A682 Barrowford - Gisburn Road for two hours following the accident at 12.15pm yesterday.

The driver of the caravan-towing Nissan 4X4, Graham Brierland, of Littleborough, Greater Manchester, and his passengers escaped without serious injury, but the front of the vehicle was severely damaged by fire.

It is understood Mr Nutter was with a group of riders, one of them his brother, travelling for a day out in Yorkshire.

Moorcock owner, Peter Holt, was on the inn car park when he heard "an enormous blast."

"The blaze was very fierce, an inferno and at first we feared the rider was under the jeep, but he was in the middle of the road. "People came out to help and one lady, who seemed professional, took charge of things, but by the time the ambulance arrived they had lost his pulse."

Mr Holt said the blast scorched his son Stephen's hair as he stood at the front of the pub, just yards away from the accident.

"It was a terrifying experience.

"The bike was completely burned out, destroyed, with pieces everywhere. It was horrific."

Mr Holt said there had been long-held concerns over the large number of motorbikes using the road, particularly at weekends.

"It has been a tragedy waiting to happen.

"We have said for years someone would be killed - now it has happened," Mr Holt added.

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