TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved family man and father who died following a motorcycle crash.

Police were called at 8.45pm on Monday night (June 20) after a motorbike collided with a traffic island on Sherburn Road in Durham.

The rider of the bike, 27-year-old Josh Smith, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after.

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Josh’s family have asked for privacy as they grieve and come to terms with what happened.

The road was closed for several hours following the incident to allow investigators to work at the scene.

Collision investigators would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have any dashcam footage of the bike shortly before the collision.

Anyone who can help is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 436 of June 20.

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