THE family of a motorcyclist killed in a tragic accident expressed their shock that three Gwent bikers have died in just three weeks.

They appealed to other bikers to take care on the roads.

The mother of Trinant man Lawrence William Harvey, known as Harvey to his friends, said she couldn't bear to think of other families suffering as much as she is.

Mr Harvey, 42, died two days after being involved in an accident at Penyfan industrial estate, in Oakdale, on his way home from work on August 25.

Michael Pashley, 46, of Newport, was the latest biker to die on Saturday, when the Honda motorbike he was riding was in collision with a Peugeot 206 on the A4042 between Abergavenny and Pontypool.

The tragedy follows the death of 37-year-old Lee Beddis, of Blaina, on Friday after an accident in Usk.

Mr Harvey's mother, Moira, said last night: "I would just like to tell them to be more careful. Three deaths is too many."

Another man died in Senghenydd on August 30, 57-year-old Alan Harrington, of Abertridwr, in an accident which is also being investigated by Gwent Police.

Although the causes of the other crashes are still being investigated, Mr Harvey's grieving sister, Diane Parfitt, said: "There should be more emphasis on safer driving. Other vehicles using the roads also need to take care and watch out for motorcyclists.

"In Harvey's death there was no-one else involved. But I would like more thought put into improving the safety of bikers."

Police say the four deaths are the same number of fatal motorbike accidents in Greater Gwent in the last three weeks as there was for the whole of last year.

Inspector Steve Corcoran, of Gwent Police's roads policing unit, said: "We are alarmed by the frequency of collisions that have taken place of a similar nature. They seem to have all come at the end of summer."

As well as warning bikers to wear proper high-visibility protective gear, Inspector Corcoran highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant. "Motorcyclists need to be mindful of junctions and potential hazards," he said.