TRIBUTES have been paid to a young father who died after a crash on the A35 in west Dorset.

Former Beaminster School pupil Nathan Pearce, 26, was remembered by teachers as a 'very popular and sensitive' student.

Mr Pearce, from Lyme Regis, suffered serious injuries after the motorcycle he was on was in collision with a lorry on the A35 at the Monkton Wyld junction on Thursday.

He was airlifted to hospital but died of his injuries.

It is believed Mr Pearce, whose extended family is from Beaminster, had only moved to Lyme Regis recently and a relative said he leaves behind partner Zoe and young son Oscar.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Pearce on social media with one person describing him as a 'good lad with a good heart'.

And Keith Hales, headteacher at Beaminster School, said: "Beaminster School staff were shocked and saddened to hear about Nathan.

"Mrs Herbert, his tutor, remembers Nathan as a very popular and sensitive student who always understood that the important things in life were worth working for.

"She still remembers how when Nathan’s dog got injured he went to the vet and pleaded for help, offering to pay back £5 every week until the bill was paid.

"Nathan will be fondly remembered and our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”

Mr Pearce was injured after a red Volvo rigid goods vehicle, driven by a 23-year-old Exeter man, collided with his orange Zontes ZT motorcycle at the junction of Elsdon’s Lane and the A35 near Lyme Regis about 5.30pm on Thursday.

Police said Mr Pearce sustained serious injuries in the collision and was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, but sadly died of his injures a short while later.

Lyme Regis Mayor Sally Holman said: "It's certainly a shock to hear of this accident and it's very unfortunate that a man from Lyme Regis was killed in this way.

"All of our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."

Inspector Mike Darby of Bridport Police said: "This, clearly, is a very sad and tragic accident and all our thoughts are with the family of the young man involved.

"I know our family liaison officers are speaking to the family at this time.

"Very sadly, this is the second death on that stretch of road in the last six months.

"The circumstances [of the collision] are being carefully examined by specialist officers from our traffic department."

A local motorist, who did not wish to be named, said they use that road regularly.

They said: "We just saw the helicopter flying over last night and there were diversions while the road was closed both ways.

"It's a very dangerous junction. You are going off the road just where it becomes the dual carriageway."

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward including anyone with information about the crash or the manner of driving of either vehicle.

Anyone with information should call Sgt Mark Scammell or PC David Lawrence of Dorset Police's Traffic Unit on 101, quoting incident number 26:313.