Heartbroken friends of a Watford biker have paid tribute to the "great father" after he was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Gerard Oakley Watson, known to family and friends as Jed or Ged Orchard, died on Monday after colliding with a car on the A5183, near Dunstable.

Friends of the 54-year-old motorbike fanatic, who grew up in Watford, have described him as a “lovely guy with a good sense of humour”.

Andrew Stoker, Jed’s boss and co-owner of AVSCO in Wiggenhall Road, said: “I worked with Jed for ten years and I loved him dearly. Sometimes you meet someone you just click with, and he was one of them.

“There’s only six months between us in age. We had similar tastes in music and we just understood one another – we spoke the same language. He is, and will always be, part of our family.

“He was so happy to be doing a job he loved – motorbikes were his life.”

Watford Observer:

Jed riding his favourite motorbike

Friends of the engineer have set up a JustGiving page in memory of Jed.

They are hoping to buy a wreath with the money, and to give the rest to his 14-year-old son Bradley.

Elizabeth Stoker, co-owner of AVSCO, said: “He was such a lovely guy and a great father to Bradley – they were very close to one another.

“He loved and adored his son and was so, so proud of him.

“Bradley has been left without a father at such a young age, and we want to raise as much money as possible for him.”

The Watson family were well-known in Watford because they once owned a building firm in the town.

But Jed’s father died in a motorbike accident in 1963, when Jed was one.

Jed leaves behind his mother Cynthia, stepfather Mick, sister Tracy, brother Kean and son Bradley.

To donate money, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Jedi