TRIBUTES were paid last night to a 21-year-old motorcyclist who died during a weekend of tragedy on the Essex roads. James Sackett, of Chelmsford, died after losing control of his Aprillia motorbike in the early hours of yesterday.

TRIBUTES were paid last night to a 21-year-old motorcyclist who died during a weekend of tragedy on the Essex roads.

James Sackett, of Chelmsford, died after losing control of his Aprillia motorbike in the early hours of yesterday. .

A man from Clacton was also killed after his car crashed through a fence into a tree on Saturday evening.

And five women were taken to hospital after two cars crashed in Holland on Sea, with reports from witnesses that the accident may have been caused by youngsters throwing flour bombs at the cars.

Mr Sackett died after he lost control of his 125cc Aprilia motorbike and struck a lamppost in Victoria Road, Chelmsford, at about 12.40am.

He was rushed by ambulance to Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital where a trauma team was waiting, but he died shortly after arrival.

Mr Sackett, from Stapleford Close, lived with his father, Spencer, and stepmother, Amanda who paid tribute to him.

She said: “James had a wide circle of friends and loved going to the cinema but it was his riding or working on his motorbike which was his real passion.”

The former pupil of Westlands Primary School and Highlands School celebrated his 21st birthday on August 24.

He did a year as an apprentice electrician and worked briefly at Chelmsford car auctions before deciding he wanted to be a mechanic.

He was introduced to motorbikes when he was 16, and his Aprilia was his “pride and joy” and he worked in a motorbike shop and regularly went to biking events with friends.

Mr Sackett's mother and 19-year-old sister live in Scotland.

Meanwhile a 59-year-old man died after his red Ford Fiesta left the road, went through a fence and struck a tree in Coopers Lane, Clacton at about 9pm on Saturday. Paramedics were quickly on the scene but was unable to save the man.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Resuscitation attempts were immediately started but despite the best efforts of ambulance and police crews it was not possible to save the 59-year-old local man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

No other cars were involved in the accident and police are investigating the possibility that the man died at the wheel.

Anyone with information about the Clacton crash should call Stanway road policing unit on 01206 762512.

Meanwhile, witnesses to a crash which left five women in hospital believe flour bombs were thrown at the cars just seconds before they collided.

The crash happened just after 4pm in Holland Road, Clacton, and left four women from the town with a variety of head and neck injuries.

They were all taken to Colchester General Hospital by land ambulance, though none of the injuries were thought to be serious.

The 67-year-old driver of the second car, from Holland on Sea, was struggling with chest pains and breathing difficulties and was flown by air ambulance to Colchester.

An Essex police spokeswoman said they did not have any details of the alleged flour-bomb attack but would investigate further if more information emerged.