THE WIFE of a motor-cyclist who died on Britain's most dangerous stretch of road today paid tribute to the father-of-two and said: "He had a heart of gold."

Mark Smith died after his Suzuki 249cc bike was involved in a collision with a Nissan pick-up turning into a farm driveway on the notorious A682 near Gisburn.

Mr Smith, 40, of Lower Clough Street, Barrowford, was out for an early morning ride at about 8am yesterday when the tragedy happened.

The former French foreign legionnaire was overtaking four cars when the Nissan turned right and collided with the bike.

Mr Smith, who had worked as a HGV tipper driver for Skipton-based Hargreaves Haulage for five years, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Nissan driver, James Frankland, of Watt Close Farm, Gisburn, was unhurt.

Mr Smith's family were said to be devastated by the accident.

His wife of 14 years, Diane and two sons, Liam, 12, and Jake, seven, were being comforted at their home.

Diane, a school assistant at Barrowford Infants School, where Jake goes to school, said her husband had served in the French Foreign Legion as a paratrooper for five years bNICK EVANefore joining the haulage firm.

He was a keen motorcyclist who had been riding bikes since the age of 16.

He was also a keen Burnley FC fan and a season ticket holder at the club.

Mr Smith was born in Nelson and went to Marsden Junior School and Edge End High School.

Diane said: "We are devastated by Mark's death. He had a heart of gold and was always willing to help anybody he could. He was very much a family man."

The accident-plagued A682 has been named Britain's most dangerous stretch of highway.

Figures from the AA-led European Road Assessment Programme released last month placed the A682, between junction 13 of the M65 at Nelson and the A65 in Long Preston, North Yorkshire, at the top of a list of most dangerous roads.

It isn't the first time the road has figured in the list, but it has climbed to top spot for the first time.

According to the latest figures, the 24km stretch of road, which runs trhrough Barrowford and Blacko, is consistently the most dangerous road in the country.

There were 27 fatal and serious collisions between 1998 and 2000, and the same number from 2001-2003.

That equates to 266 fatal and serious accidents per billion vehicle kilometers on the route - the like-for-like statistic the group uses to compare roads.

It is also third worst in the country for motorcycle collisions.

Police are appealing for witnesses to Sunday's accident to call them at the Accrington Road Policing Unit on 01254 353767.