Best mates die in bike tragedy

William Mansell, aged 43, and best pal Martin 'Monty' Rhodes, 31, suffered fatal injuries when their motorcycle collided with a car on the way back from a trip to Cleethorpes.

Both died despite being airlifted from the B1203 at Swinthorpe, near Market Rasen, to Grimsby Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Site fitter Monty was riding pillion to his mate as they led a convoy of four bikes back from the coast.

The best friends, both fathers, lived just three houses from each other on Manor Road in Swinton, Rotherham. Today, the partners of the two men were both in a state of shock and being comforted by relatives.

HGV driver William - known as Bill - leaves five children and Monty three youngsters.

Bill's devastated wife Karen, 42, said: "He was my life. We had been married for 13 years, together for 27 and have three daughters and two sons together.

"He simply meant the world to me. He was always joking about everything and would even make total strangers laugh immediately.

"He's a very good experienced rider and never had crash before in his life. He's been riding for years but he'd only had this bike a few months. It was a big part of his life."

Monty was the partner of Bill's niece Amy Duke, the mother to two of his three children. Amy fought back tears as she said: "He was such a great dad. He kept all the family happy and laughing. We can't believe he has gone and we'll miss him so much."