A YOUNG engineer has been killed in a motorcycle accident only two years after his sister lost her brave battle against leukaemia.

Neil Blackburn, 22, died instantly after losing control of his motorbike on a country road and falling into the path of a vehicle coming the other way.

His distraught parents, Norman and Carol Blackburn, have been devastated by the second tragedy to shatter their lives.

The couple, who live in Shelley Drive, Baxenden, were still coming to terms with the loss of their 22-year-old daughter, Nova.

Fighting back the tears, Neil's parents spoke about their bright and selfless son who was a bone marrow donor for his sister as she fought to the end against leukaemia.

Mr Blackburn said: "They don't come any better. He was the best."

Neil, a former pupil at St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington, had worked at Hurel Dubois in Burnley since leaving school.

He served his apprenticeship with the company where he was an aircraft engineer and worked in the design office.

He gained an HND in production engineering last year and was studying part-time for a degree at the University of Central Lancashire.

He was keen on sport and a member of the health club at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, where he swam and trained.

Neil was on a country run near Settle when he lost control of his Yamaha motorbike on a bend.

His friend, Daniel Lord, was on a motorcycle following behind.

The couple's university student daughter, Nova, lost her two-year battle against cancer in January 1994. Despite chemotherapy treatment and a bone marrow operation she continued her studies from her hospital bed determined to take her finals and was awarded a posthumous diploma by Sheffield University.

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