A FATHER of two described as a loving family man died instantly from horrific injuries after losing control of his powerful Yamaha 600cc motorbike, a Bolton inquest was told.

Azhar Ahmed, 35, was flung into a lamp post after his bike hit a curb as he was riding home along Chorley Old Road, Horwich.

Pakistan-born Mr Ahmed, who worked for a family-run off-licence in Bury, had only recently passed a motorbike test and spent the last afternoon of his life at Rivington Barn, Horwich, with two of his friends.

Acting Coroner Simon Nelson was told that Mr Ahmed was following his friend, Chris Olga, at 4.15pm when his bike slid into the curb throwing him into a lamp post.

His other friend, Jason Greensmith, who was travelling a few yards behind, broke down in tears at the scene.

Mr Greensmith ran up to help his friend, who was lying on his back with blood pouring from his head and eyes.

"I knew he was dead," Mr Greensmith said.

A veteran biker, Alan Green, was also travelling behind Mr Ahmed a few yards before the Bob Smithy pub when he saw the man's bike lose control at a sharp right hand bend, the inquest heard.

Mr Green, who complained that the road surface had a strong camber and that, as an experienced driver, he would have approached the bend "gingerly", told how he saw Mr Ahmed thrown from the bike "sliding and spinning into a lamp post".

The passer-by stopped and was so shocked at the extent of the man's injuries that he was unable to phone the emergency services. Another female passer-by alerted ambulance paramedics, the inquest heard.

A pathologist said Mr Ahmed had died of huge chest injuries.

Mr Ahmed's brothe, Fazal, of Wellington Road, Bury, described his brother as "a loving family man".

Mr Fazal said: "He was a very caring, understanding and loving father of his children and a loving brother.

"He was very well liked by the whole community, especially by the people he worked with day after day.

"We didn't realise how many friends he had until he passed away and a lot of people still remember him and love him to this day."

The inquest heard how Mr Ahmed had always had a passion for motorbikes but had only bought his first 125cc bike eight months ago.

He replaced it with a more powerful version but Mr Nelson said he had been too inexperienced. Police said that no other vehicle had been involved in the incident.

In recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Nelson hoped other bikers would learn from Mr Ahmed's tragic lesson. He said: "This accident was caused by driver inexperience. If there are any lessons to be learned, then it should be that people should graduate to more powerful bikes slowly."