A PRIZE-winning North-East biker, killed when another rider turned across him on the Isle of Man TT course, has been described by a friend as the safest rider he ever knew.

School caretaker and father-of-two, Kevin Lynn, 44, from Hartlepool, was killed in June last year in a high speed crash on the 37-mile course.

HGV operator Seamus Greaney, 31, of County Limerick, Republic of Ireland, admitted his error of judgement caused the crash.

But he denies causing the death of Mr Lynn - a former motorbike production champion road racer - by dangerous driving.

A jury, sitting in Douglas, heard how Mr Lynn, who lived in the Throston Grange Primary School bungalow, had been riding down the Mountain Circuit on open road before last year's TT meeting. He was accompanied by two friends, one in front and one behind him.

Ian Macklam, a diver, of Chepstow Walk, Hartlepool and Ashley Joyce, an HGV driver of Stockton, both said they were travelling up to 70mph when Mr Greaney suddenly pulled across their path.

They said Mr Greaney stopped and suddenly tried to do a U-turn without looking to see if the road was clear.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," Mr Macklam told the jury. "There was a party of bikes coming up the road and one of these collided with Mr Lynn's body."

They tried to help their friend, but he was already dead.

A pathologist found Mr Lynn had suffered a fractured skull, brain damage and other multiple injuries consistent with a high speed crash.

"He was the safest rider I have ever come across," said Mr Macklam. "He had ridden in competitions and won trophies for motor sports."

Evidence was brought showing Mr Greaney had been performing one-wheeled stunts on the open road immediately prior to the crash.

But Mr Greaney told the court he had been performing such professional stunt riding for five years.

He said he did look back and saw the oncoming bikes before turning in the road. He thought he had time to turn, but it was "an error of judgement".

The case continues.