A MOTORCYCLIST who died after a head-on collision with a car on a moorland road was on her way to visit her mother in Blackburn.

Susan O'Connor, 32, was born in London but grew up in Blackburn, before moving to study and teach in Bradford.

The keen musician and sportswoman was travelling through Laneshawbridge, near Colne, on her way from Ilkley to Blackburn, when she was involved in the fatal collision with a Nissan car.

Susan was educated in Blackburn at Pleckgate High School before studying for a Bachelor of Education degree at Bradford University.

During her degree she spent a year doing teaching practice at the prestigious Harvard University in Boston, America.

She combined working as deputy head teacher at Woodroyd Middle School, Bradford, with studying for a masters degree at Bradford and Ilkley Community College. During her spare time Susan played in a band called the Red Herrings and went white-water rafting and sailing.

She was also a keen and experienced motorcyclist and, despite having only passed her motorcycle test two days before her death, she had been riding motorbikes for many years.

At the time of the accident Susan had been on her way to visit her mother Adrienne in North Bank Avenue, Blackburn. She was also hoping to buy a powerful 600cc Yamaha motorbike.

Her brother, Tim O'Connor, a policeman in Blackpool, said: "She was a very experienced rider and this is an unexplained and tragic accident. Susan was very active and full of life."

Another brother, Bill, is a fireman in Accrington.

An inquest will open into her death tomorrow in Burnley.

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