DOZENS of motorcyclists came to Burnley yesterday as bikers bade farewell to a rider killed in a road accident.

Jeremy White, known to his many friends as ‘Jez’, was travelling home from work last month along the A682 Gisburn Road, Blacko, when his motorbike collided with a Ford Transit van, close to the Moorcock pub.

A convoy of riders formed an impressive escort for Mr White’s funeral cortege as it made its way to Burnley Crematorium.

Mr White, 47, from Pine Street, Nelson, was a popular member of Burnley and District Motorcycle Club and was also well known among the wider biking community.

After the accident, Mr White, the father of two daughters aged five and seven, was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital but later died.

Roy Longstaff, 55, is vice chairman of the club and landlord of the Lane Ends Pub, Kiddrow Lane, Burnley.

He said: “There were so many people who wanted to pay their respects.

“Jez was originally from Bingley in West Yorkshire so we assembled close to the M65 and waited for the cortege to arrive from over the Pennines.

“It was a great showing and it really summed up his popularity.

“He was such a grand fellow, he deserved a good send-off from his friends.”

The wake was held back at the Lane Ends pub.

Mr Longstaff also said that in the aftermath of his friend’s death, closer ties had been forged between bikers in Burnley and the Lancashire’s road traffic police.

“The police were most helpful in escorting some of us up to the accident site to lay flowers,” he said.

“We’ve raised some money for their charity and we’ll be presenting Sergeant Claire Pearson with a cheque at a special entertainment evening at the pub on Friday.”