FRIENDS of a keen biker and father-of-four who died in a motorbike accident have paid tribute to the "gentle giant."

Andrew Hall, a 45-year-old, from Arrowsmith Avenue in St John's, died after his red Triumph 955cc motorcycle was in collision with a blue Skoda Fabia car and trailer, and another bike.

The crash happened near Cleobury Mortimer, on the A4117 Cleobury to Bewdley Road at Mawley Oak, close to the Clows Top junction, at about 12.30pm on Sunday, May 4.

He was declared dead at the scene.

Nick Holt was Mr Hall's best friend and had known the Worcester man for 23 years.

"I got to know Andy through bikes and I rode with him over the years," said Mr Holt of Ambrose Close in St John's.

"There's no doubt he was the best rider I ever knew. I feel privileged to have ridden with him.

"Andy was a very clever bloke. He was also very quiet and private and didn't let many people get really close to him. He always had a lot of time for his kids."

Another close friend, Alan Fawkes, described Mr Hall as a "really nice chap."

Sensible rider

"He was a very sensible rider," said Mr Fawkes of Greenford Gardens in St John's.

"Last year, Andy and I were pulled over by the police who congratulated us on our riding.

"The officer said if everyone rode as well as we did he wouldn't have any problems."

Mr Hall was a member of the Worcester Auto Club in Perdiswell and would join in for the social activities as well as the group bike rides.

"We are all very sad about what happened," said Jim Strefford, chairman of Worcester Auto Club .

Club's first fatality

"This is the first fatality of a club member on the roads since 1968.

"Andy was a gentle giant. He was 6ft 4ins plus and in all my time at the club I never heard him raise his voice once.

"He was a smashing bloke. His nickname was Horlicks, because of his surname."

Mr Hall worked as a heating systems designer at Nu-Way Ltd in Droitwich and had interests in computing and photography.

Mr Hall, divorced, leaves four daughters aged six to 14. Arrangements for the funeral are still being made.

The family was too distraught to speak to the Evening News.