Motorcycle deaths on rural Welsh roads have rocketed this year

Eight people have now died in the Dyfed-Powys Police area as a result of motorbike accidents this year, compared with only one at the same point last year.

There have also been 12 deaths in north Wales.

This weekend's death toll began to rise at 1550 BST on Saturday on the A483 trunk road between the village of Beulah and Llanwrtyd Wells.

Two motorcycles collided with another vehicle and one rider received fatal injuries.

We urge all motorcyclists who use the county roads to ride carefully and responsibly Inspector Geraint Rees

The other rider received serious injuries and was taken to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, by air ambulance.

The road was closed for six hours while an accident investigation team investigated the cause.

Shocked

The second collision took place shortly after, at 1640BST on the A470 between Erwood and Builth Wells when a motorcycle left the road. The rider, a man, died.

The third accident happened in Lampeter where a man and woman were hurt when their motorised tricycle crashed.

They were taken to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth for treatment.

Insp Geraint Rees of Dyfed-Powys Police's Brecon division said he was shocked and saddened by the number of motorcyle deaths in mid Wales this year.

"We urge all motorcyclists who use the county roads to ride carefully and responsibly," he added.

"Dyfed-Powys Police will continue with their policy of high-visibility and covert policing with the intention of preventing road traffic offences and reducing road collisions.

"We will work closely with our partners to improve or alter road conditions to try and ensure that collisions do not occur on our roads."

Police are becoming increasingly worried about the number of motorbike deaths in rural Wales.

There have been 12 motorbike deaths in north Wales so far this year, more than in the whole of 2002.