A MOTORCYCLIST who died after losing control of his bike while riding near Cliviger has been named as Michael Barker.

Police said Mr Barker, 54, of Rawtenstall, was out for a ride with his two sons when the accident happened on the A646 Burnley Road on Sunday.

Mr Barker died in Royal Blackburn Hospital after losing control of his Honda CB1300 at around 4.45pm.

Police said he had been riding along the road with one of his sons on a bike in front of him and one behind.

The crash occurred on an S-bend on the road and as a result neither son saw the accident happen.

After losing control Mr Barker’s bike veered across the carriageway before coming to rest on the pavement.

He was conscious and brea-thing immediately after the crash and was given medical assistance at the scene by passing motorists, but police saidthat he had slipped out of consciousness while on the side of the road.

He was taken to Royal Bla-ckburn Hospital by North West Air Ambulance bu he died shortly after arriving there.

Police are now investigating the possibility that Mr Barker had an underlying medical condition that caused him to be taken ill while on the bike and made him lose control.

The road between Burnley and Todmorden is a favourite with motorcyclists across Lancashire but campaigners have called for a reduction in the speed limit following a number of crashes there.

Mr Barker is the third motorcyclist to die on that stretch of the road in three years.