Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal motorbike crash. Beds officers want to speak to anyone who has information about a crash in Southill late on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning in which the rider died after hitting a tre

Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal motorbike crash.

Beds officers want to speak to anyone who has information about a crash in Southill late on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning in which the rider died after hitting a tree.

John Joseph McNally, from Sunnyside Road in Hitchin, lost control of his Honda VTR 1000 about 200 metres north-east of The Crescent Stanford on the B658.

He was found by a passing motorist at the side of the road shortly after 9am on Saturday, but paramedics said the man could have been there for up to 10 hours.

The 44-year-old was negotiating a sweeping right-hand bend when he left the road and collided with a small tree. His bike continued into a field.

Pc Dave Clarke, from Beds Police Collision Investigation Unit, is keen to speak to anyone who may have seen Mr McNally before the crash.

He said: "While Mr McNally was found just after 9am it is clear the collision occurred some eight to 10 hours before, so anyone who knew John or recalls seeing him on his bike on Friday night or early hours of Saturday morning, is urged to contact the police. His mother was the last person to see him when he left home so we hope that someone else may have come into contact with him after that and can help us piece together what happened."

Anyone with information can contact PC Clarke on 01234 842492.