The son of rugby fan Dave Lambourne, who died in a motorbike crash, has called on friends and family to celebrate his father's life.

Mr Lambourne, 43, was a member of Witney Rugby Club, and officials of the Hailey Road club were yesterday remembering the former player.

The father-of-four died on Sunday after his red-and-black Suzuki motorbike left the road in Curbridge. No other vehicle was involved.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, at 5.45pm, which happened in Main Road, just to the west of Downs Road Aaron, 18, said last night: "We were told that dad died on impact and there was nothing the paramedics could have done for him.

"He lived life 100 per cent and if people celebrate his life rather than mourn his death, that would be fantastic."

First team coach John Campbell said: "Aaron plays for our second team and he came round to see me after the accident - this is very upsetting for everyone."

He added that Mr Lambourne was a player for the second, third and fourth teams in the early 1990s, and played alongside him in the Turf Fairies team that won the Witney Sevens competition in 1995.

Mr Campbell said: "Dave was a winger and did not know all the laws of the game, but if I said 'grab it' he would run like hell.

"Dave would tackle anything - in one game against Chipping Norton he broke a bone in his leg but still carried on playing.

"Dave really lived life to the full. For 10 to 15 years he worked for me and Mark Godfrey as a landscape gardener, before he ended up doing haulage for Oxford Carriers, in Stanton Harcourt."

Club press officer Dave Gardner added: "Dave was a nice guy and everyone at the club is thinking of his family."

Mr Campbell said Mr Lambourne was a keen motorcyclist, who moved recently to the New Inn, Crawley, a well-known meeting place for bikers.

It is understood that Mr Lambourne was divorced from his first wife, the mother of his son and three daughters, and had recently split with another partner.

Mr Lambourne maintained strong links with the rugby club and each year would light the fireworks at the Bonfire Night display.

Alan Everett, managing director of Oxford Carriers, said: "Dave had been with us for about nine months and was a very likeable guy."

Aaron expected his father's funeral to take place next Friday. Full details will be posted on www.witneyrfc.co.uk Anyone with information about the crash should call Bicester traffic police via 08458 505505.