A GRANDFATHER, knocked off his bike by a speeding car being followed by police, was only just recovering from two heart attacks, his son has revealed.

Frank Almond, 54, today remained poorly in Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the accident in Shadsworth Road on Thursday night when he was riding his Honda motorcycle home from a friends house at 9.25pm.

Police said Mr Almond, of Leopold Way, Blackburn, was thrown off his bike following the collision with a Ford Granada saloon which was being followed by officers after it was spotted speeding. The car went on to smash into railings before overturning.

Onlookers helped 21-year-old Faizal Khan, of St James Road, Blackburn, and Sajid Hussain, 25, of Castle Street, Brierfield, out of the wreckage. They were also taken to BRI where they were said to be "comfortable."

Mr Almond suffered serious head and internal injuries. His son Damian Almond, 26, today said he was still recovering from his heart attacks. He said: "He had two before Christmas and had to have three stents put in his heart which open up the valves to assist and improve the blood flow.

"He was just getting over that when this happened. His arm is badly broken and he has swelling on the front of the brain."

Damian, of Swan farm Close, in Lower Darwen, added his dad was a very experienced rider, although did not go on his bike as often as he used to.

He also called for a thorough investigation into what happened after Mr Almond's family revealed yesterday that they had not been told that a police car had been following the vehicle involved in the accident.

He said: "He was very professional about his riding. He had taken his advanced motor cycle driving licence. It was pure bad luck what happened. Dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn't ride his bike that much and didn't like riding it around Blackburn because of the dangers." Police said they have opened a criminal investigation into the driving of the saloon car and have carried out forensic tests.They have notified the Police Complaints Authority and may launch their own internal inquiry.

The vehicle, said to have been travelling at "excessive speed" was also the subject of a road traffic accident investigation.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident to contact them on 01254 51212.