A CORONER has recorded a verdict of accidental death on a motorcyclist killed on a stretch of road in North Craven popular with bikers.

Robert Sharples, of Sarah Street, Darwen, was killed on the A682 near Nappa, Hellifield, on October 8 last year.

The inquest heard that he had been out with two friends who had travelled to Devil's Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.

The 39-year-old father of three died after failing to negotiate a right-hand bend on his Honda CB 1100 SF motorbike and colliding with a tree on his way home.

In a witness statement, Gareth Williams, from Kent, who was riding with a different group of motorcyclists, said he was travelling behind Mr Sharples and witnessed the accident.

"As Mr Sharples went round the left-hand bend he appeared to fail to lift up the bike to take the smaller right-hand bend and just went straight on. He hit the kerb and then hit the tree," said Mr Williams.

"It looked to me that it was a momentary lapse in concentration," he added.

Two off-duty paramedics had stopped and given assistance to the rider, who never regained consciousness.

Coroner Geoff Fell said he was satisfied from police reports that excessive speed was not to blame for the accident and that Mr Sharples was an experienced motorcyclist whose machine was well kept and who wore all the correct clothing.