A CORONER has urged council bosses to take action over an accident blackspot after an Earby motorcyclist was killed in a collision on the busy stretch of road.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said he would be writing to Pendle Council asking officers to look closely at a 60mph stretch of the A56 between Kelbrook and Foulridge.

It follows an inquest this week into the death in February of 47-year-old Brian Alliston, of Rostle Top Road, Earby.

A police officer told the inquest in Burnley that the road was a busy one and had a bad accident record, although he believed the 60mph limit was acceptable.

The hearing was told that Mr Alliston was dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital following the early morning collision with a Nissan pickup truck driven by Thornton-in-Craven milkman Keith Bailey.

Mr Bailey, of Lane Ends Farm, is due to face court proceedings in connection with the accident, accused of driving without due care and attention.

Mr Alliston's widow, Pauline, who was too distressed to attend, had earlier told the inquest opening that her husband had ridden motorcycles all his adult life and had been trying to sell the D-registered 400cc Suzuki GSXR to buy a smaller machine.

On Monday February 15 he set off for work as usual just before 7.30am. His wife heard about an accident on the radio, but it wasn't until police arrived at her house that she discovered her husband had been involved.

Pathologist Dr W D Salman told the inquest that Mr Alliston died of multiple injuries sustained in the crash, which happened close to the old county boundary.

Lynne Robinson, of New Hague Cottages, said she was opening a bedroom window when she heard a motorbike approaching and heading towards Foulridge.

She heard it pass then heard the sound of scraping metal, followed by a thud.

Mrs Robinson realised there had been an accident and went outside to see a pickup and a motorcycle.

The driver of the pickup was standing on the pavement and the motorcyclist was lying in the road.

Mrs Robinson said that judging by the sound, the motorcycle wasn't travelling very fast, and that the road was damp although it wasn't raining at the time.

She added: "I couldn't understand what had happened. I couldn't hear anything else, only the bike."

PC Andrew Lee had interviewed Mr Bailey, who had been delivering milk and newspapers.

The policeman told the inquest Mr Bailey had said he couldn't remember anything about the accident. He recalled nothing before getting out of the pickup, not even getting up for work that morning.

He would reverse into a field to turn round, a manoeuvre he had performed on previous occasions. The officer added that the stretch of road was busy and had a bad accident record, but he believed the 60mph limit was acceptable.

Accident investigator PC Christopher Driver said his inquiries pointed to the pickup making a turning manoeuvre, pulling out of a gateway and turning right onto the A56. The motorcycle, travelling towards Colne, had the right of way and probably had a dipped headlight on.

The rider had lost control, probably due to applying the front brake, but had not been negotiating the left hand bend at speed. The impact happened in the middle of the road, with the pickup broadside to the motorcycle.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said it was not the role of the inquest to apportion blame for the collision, only to establish the circumstances of Mr Alliston's death.

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