Fall in Manx Grand Prix accidents

The roads in Douglas were brought to a standstill on Wednesday

There was a slight fall in the number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions on the Isle of Man during the Manx Grand Prix, police have said.

A 43-year-old motorcyclist from Scotland, who was visiting for the festival, died at Greeba.

There were also four incidents on open roads that resulted in serious injury.

This compares with two fatal and four serious collisions in 2007 and three fatal and six serious collisions during the same period in 2006.

The Isle of Man Constabulary said it deployed high visibility patrols as part of its continued efforts to deter anti-social and dangerous riding.

Insp Richard Power, head of the Roads Policing Unit, said: "The number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions has slightly reduced from previous years and we will continue to work hard to reduce them further.

"In investigating some of the more serious incidents the police have recovered video footage which identified clearly dangerous riding by motorcyclists and this is disappointing."