Police are appealing for witnesses following the death of motorcyclist after his bike hit a tree yesterday afternoon in Newquay.

The single-vehicle collision happened at 2.20pm on March 9, when a black Aprilia 1000cc motorcycle left the road at a bend on the A3058 between Summercourt and Brighton Cross.

The 56-year-old male rider from St Columb was airlifted to Treliske Hospital where he died of his injuries. His next of kin have been informed although formal identification has not yet taken place.

The road was closed for around four-and-a-half hours for police to investigate the scene.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen the collision, the rider or a group of three riders immediately before the incident to contact them.

Sergeant Jane Corkhill, of the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit, said: “We are very interested in speaking to anyone who was in the area at the time, in particular driving along the B3275 or the A3058, who either witnessed the collision or saw an Aprilia motorcycle driving just prior to the incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting log 498 of 09/03/14.