A 29-YEAR-OLD serviceman from RAF Lyneham died after his motorbike was in collision with a van on the A3102 Lyneham to Calne road yesterday (June 11) at 11.50am.

The man, who was driving his silver Triumph Daytona towards Hilmarton, crashed into the front of a Ford Escort van about half a mile north of the Oxford Road roundabout.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The van driver was uninjured.

It is the third fatal accident on the same stretch of road in just two years.

In April 2001 Gavin Gillam, 22, of Poynder Place, Hilmarton, was killed when his Mini careered across the road and crashed into the front of an oncoming bus.

His friend, Matthew Yates, from Chippenham, who was with him in the car, escaped with cuts and bruises.

In September 2002, Nick Walmsley, 38, a father-of-two from Duncan Street, Calne, died when his black Renault 19 hit a tree at Snowhill. Hilmarton Parish Council and villagers have been campaigning for tighter speed restrictions to slow the traffic down on the road for the last 15 years.

Parish councillor, John Hunt, 63, said the latest accident was yet another tragic loss of life.

He said the latest motorcycle fatality now brought the accident tally on the road up to a staggering 15 in just four years.

"This latest crash is almost at the same spot as the last one," said Mr Hunt. "We have been campaigning for 15 years to have speed restrictions , but so little has been done. Meanwhile, more people are dying here."

Mr Hunt said the council had appealed to the county council for double white lines and speed cameras.

"We have been trying for years to get the message across to people, but they don't seem to listen."

PC Pete Williamson at Westbury Traffic Department is appealing for witnesses to come forward. He can be contacted on (01373) 827689.

Villagers at Lyneham have also called for speed measures after a motorcyclist was killed on the B4069 road last week.