TRIBUTES have been paid to a “well loved” musician who died in a riding accident in Essex.

Michael Matthews, 62, died following a single vehicle fatal crash on the A12 near Dedham on Sunday.

Mr Matthews was riding a black Suzuki motorbike on the northbound carriageway when the accident happened at 12.40pm.

Mr Matthews, from Engfield, is survived by his wife Pam, two children Paul, 31, and Lindsay, 26, and his 10-week-old grandchild Amie.

In a statement, his family said: Mike was well loved.

“He was a skilled bass guitarist and spent many weekends entertaining people in local and surrounding pubs. Mike was a member of a few music bands - “Mike’s Band”, “Earthsign”, and “Flag”.

“18 months ago Mike retired from a company called Westeye as a quality assessment manager due to health problems with his back.

“Despite his bad back, his spine felt almost pain-free when riding his Black Suzuki.

“He had the bike for a couple of years, although he has been riding bikes since he was a kid.

“Whenever the weather was nice he would often pop out on his bike for a drive.

“He would never take the bike out in bad weather. Although the loss of Mike is hard on his family, they are comforted in the fact he passed doing something he loved.”

Anybody who saw the crash should call the A12 Alliance policing unit on 0300 333 4444.