Biker 'died a mile from his home'

Police said the death was a "needless loss of life"

A motorcyclist who was killed in a road crash in Aberdeenshire has been named.

Police said Neville Thomson, 35, died about a mile from his home in the village of Newmachar, after a collision with a car at 1515 GMT on Saturday.

He died at the scene of the crash, on the A947 Aberdeen to Banff road. Two people in the car were uninjured.

Police said the young father's death came almost exactly a year to the day since another motorcyclist lost his life at the same location.

Sgt Graham Sloan, from Grampian Police, said: "I am not in a position to comment on the cause of the collision at this time but again we are dealing with the needless loss of life on our roads.

"Motorcyclists are vulnerable on our roads and I would urge them and other motorists to exercise caution.

"Our inquiries are continuing at this time and I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision who has not been spoken to by the police to come forward."