THE family of a Bournemouth man who died after coming off his motorbike have paid tribute to a “fantastic father and grandfather”.

Frank Bowen, 61, from the West Howe area, died after losing control of his Aprilia Tuono 998 on the A30 as he rode between Shaftesbury and Salisbury on Friday afternoon.

Yesterday his devastated family paid tribute to the grandfather of four.

They said they would miss Frank “very dearly.”

“You were a wonderful husband to Tersia and father to Wayne and Morne. You were also a fantastic father-in-law to Chantelle and Yvette and grandfather to Charne, Jhann-lee, Ethan and Liam.

“We love you very much. God bless you and be with you,” they added in a joint tribute they gave to the Daily Echo.

Emergency services were called to the scene on the A30 at Donhead St Andrew, between Shaftesbury and Salisbury, at around 1.30pm on Friday.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said Frank was riding his red Aprilia towards Salisbury at Brook Hill when the accident happened.

A blue Scania car transporter was travelling in the opposite direction, towards Shaftesbury, at the time of the crash, but there was no collision, police said.

Frank was declared dead at the scene.

The road was closed for six hours while specialists examined the crash site for clues.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Phone Wiltshire Police on 01380 735735 or e-mail either PC Stephen Cox or PC Christopher Penny on stephen.cox@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk or christopher.penny@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk