AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a dad-of-four killed in a crash on a rural Dorset road.

Motorcyclist Andrew Mann was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which happened on the A31 outside Henbury Stud Farm, near Sturminster Marshall, on the morning of Tuesday, April 30.

The 40-year-old, a senior planning consultant for Savills, lived in Dorchester Road, Upton.

On Wednesday, an inquest into Mr Mann's death was opened at the coroner's court in Bournemouth.

It was heard that police were called to the crash shortly after 8.45am. The collision involved Mr Mann's Kawasaki motorbike, a van and a dropside lorry.

Coroner's officer Phillipa Morgan said officers received reports that a "motorcycle rider collided with a vehicle".

"The ambulance attended and confirmed Mr Mann deceased at the scene.

"Police are making further enquiries to ascertain the circumstances of the incident," she said.

A post-mortem established the cause of Mr Mann's death as multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision, it was heard. A full inquest will take place on November 20.

Mr Mann's family released a tribute after his death. They said: "He leaves behind four devastated children and two loving and heartbroken sisters.

"Also hurting today are his grandmother, his nephews and nieces and other family members, friends and work colleagues.

"He will be missed so much by so many. The children and family need time to process and grieve and would ask that their privacy at this time be respected."

A 41-year-old man from Poole was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and perverting the course of justice in connection with the crash.

He has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 30:70.