TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘loving’ dad-of-two killed in a horror smash on a notorious East Lancashire road.

Jeremy White, known to his legion of friends as ‘Jez’, was travelling home from work along the A682 Gisburn Road, Blacko, a road once listed in the world’s top ten most dangerous, when his motorbike collided with a Ford Transit pick-up van shortly after 4.30pm on Monday.

The Burnley and District Motorcycle Club member was riding his 1100cc Kawasaki Ninja, home to Pine Street, Nelson when the accident happened. The 47-year-old building site foreman, who works in Settle, was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital but later died of his injuries.

Roy Longstaffe, Vice Chairman of the Burnley and District Motorcycle Club and landlord of the Lane End Pub in Burnley, said: “Jez was an absolutely brilliant man who would do anything for anyone. He is going to be missed by a lot of people.

“Jez was a lovable character and always the first person ready for a party. The motorcycle community is very close and Jez’s death is going to hit everyone hard.

“He had been a member of our club for about six months and owned several motorbikes.

“He would spend all his time on the open road if he didn’t have to work.

“The Burnley and District Motorcycle Club meet here at the Lane End Pub and we are always involved in charity events. Jez liked to get involved and could often be seen heading out with the disabled members of our group.”

Tributes have also been flooding in to a special memorial page on social networking site Facebook for the dad-of-two and former Vargulfs Motorcycle Club member in Gisburn.

Craig Dallas posted: “Ride free now and forever brother, you will be sadly missed.”

Nicola Spencer, posted : “R.I.P Jez u will be missed by all love and thoughts with all ur family and friends right now xxxx”

In 2006, a motoring magazine Auto Express dubbed the A682 between Gisburn and the Lancashire, Yorkshire boundary as one of the world’s most dangerous roads, along with streets in Baghdad, Brazil and Bolivia.

According to the AA Trust, there are 27 crashes between junction 13 on the M65 in Nelson and the A65 at Long Preston every two years.

Lancashire County Council rubber stamped plans to introduce extra safety features along the road from Barrowford to Blacko in 2009 to the value of £15,000.

Mr White, leaves two daughters aged five and seven.

Police are appealing for witnesses who saw the collision which closed the road for more than three hours on Monday to come forward.

Sgt Steve Wignall from the Lancashire Road Policing Unit said: “I would appeal to anybody who witnessed the collision to come forward and contact Lancashire Police on 101.”