A CYCLIST was killed after being knocked off his bike in a collision with a motorbike.

The 43-year-old was riding along Rivington Road heading into Belmont when he collided with the bike which was heading the other way.

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He died at Preston Royal Hospital while the motorcyclist, who suffered facial injuries, was treated at Salford Hospital.

The incident has added to concerns about the levels of traffic in the road, which was closed for three hours following the accident.

Belmont councillor Jean Rigby said: “I am so sad about it. It is an absolutely terrible tragedy.

“We need to educate the public as there are loads of these bikes around and people need to think bike and drive appropriately.

“And it isn’t just drivers but the cyclists as well who need to think bike as well.

“We looked at the road after the last accident in the area in January and I have come to the conclusion that there isn’t really anything we can do to the road itself. It is more about making road users aware of the dangers.”

Cyclist Simon Fox, from Darwen, said: “It can be a bad road up there. You get people on motorbikes. I used to be a biker as well so I can see it from both sides to be honest.”

Mr Fox, a member of Darwen Dashers running group, said there had been an increase in the number of cyclists and motorbike riders in Rivington Road.

He said: “I do go over there quite a bit and there has been a lot more cyclists on the road these days. And there is generally a big bikers meet at Rivington Barn on a Sunday so there are a lot of them around. Cyclists have to be careful.”

Appealing for witnesses to the accident on Sunday at 2.40pm, Sgt Claire Pearson, of the Road Policing Unit, said: “We are trying to establish how this collision occurred.”

Police are yet to release the identity of the 43-year-old, who lived in St Helens.

Anyone with any information should contact PC 1301 Harris at Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log number LC-20140921-0844.