CHIPPENHAM NEWS: POLICE fear there will be more fatal motorbike accidents in north Wiltshire over the summer months unless riders listen to safety advice.

The warning came days after 22-year-old David Haines' left leg was 'destroyed' in an accident on A420 Bristol Road outside the Chippenham Motor Company garage.

A week earlier 48-year-old Lacock resident Tony Read was killed after losing control of his high-powered Ducati bike along a stretch of road between Devizes and Calne.

Sergeant Craig Hardy, of the north and west Wiltshire traffic department, is urging cyclists to take extra care.

He said five riders were killed in the region last month and the number of fatalities has already exceeded the level at the same time last year.

"I'm concerned about the high figures because it does not just affect car drivers and motorcyclists involved it is also awful for everybody connected to them such as

families and friends," he said.

Sgt Hardy said he is amazed to see riders without helmets or wearing shorts and t-shirts instead of protective gear.

"Motorcyclists are always going to come off worse in an accident and they stand more chance of getting seriously injured if they don't wear the correct kit," he said.

"What they've got to remember is a dented wing mirror to a car is a broken leg to a rider. They have got to expect the unexpected.

"The problem we have is some riders only take their bikes out during the summer months. We call them fair weather riders. People who ride bikes all year round are usually far more experienced and ride very differently.

"We also have a small number who ride extremely badly."

Sgt Hardy is urging motorcyclists to brush up on their skills by taking riding courses some of which are run by Wiltshire police.

Mr Haines, of Lyneham, underwent emergency surgery at the Royal United Hospital in Bath after his Suzuki bike collided with a Vauxhall Vectra at about 9.40am on Monday. He is now in a stable condition.

Sgt Hardy said: "It appears that the Vauxhall Vectra, which was travelling from the Bristol direction, was turning right into Chippenham Motor Company when it was in collision with the motorcycle which was travelling along the A420 towards Bristol. The accident destroyed the motorcyclist's left leg."

Anyone with information about the accident can call Corsham police on (01249) 716564.