TRAFFIC police are urging bikers to take extra care following the death of a Congleton man on an infamous moorland road.

Gary Croft, who was married with a young baby, was killed in a road smash on the Cat and Fiddle stretch between Macclesfield and Buxton.

Mr Croft, aged 38, was riding his 1,000cc Honda motorbike when he was involved in a head-on collision with a Land Rover Discovery.

He had been taking his bike out for the morning on the A537, a hugely popular road with bikers because of its series of tight bends.

However the road has also made a name for itself because of a series of deaths and accidents involving motorcyclists over the years.

There have been four deaths on the road in the last three years, Mr Croft being the second fatality in 2000.

He lived at Heath Road, and leaves his wife Marion and seven-month-old baby daughter Katie Saer.

He worked as the stores manager at Campey's in Marton.

"Gary was very well known and liked, and I'm devastated by his death," said Sheila Agar, from Ennerdale Drive, Congleton, a close friend of the family.

"He was a family man, and Katie was his pride and joy.

"He was so terribly happy, and idolised her - she was the apple of his eye.

"Myself and my husband got to know Marion when she worked behind the bar at the Davenport Arms in Marton, and became very close friends with her and Gary."

Mrs Agar accompanied Mrs Croft for the terrible ordeal of identifying her husband's body.

Mr Croft was a playing member of Congleton Rugby Club, and Mrs Agar, herself a member, said everyone at the club was 'stunned' by the tragedy.

"Gary was a biker, and died doing the thing he absolutely adored," she added.

Rugby club chairman Bob Lewis said the reaction among club members to news of Gary's death was one of 'great sorrow.'

"I would like to see us observe a silence tomorrow before our practice match," he said.

The accident happened at 11.30am 200 metres north of the A537 junction with Ackers Knowle Lane.

A police spokesman said Mr Croft was travelling towards Macclesfield, and is believed to have been overtaking when he was in collision with the Discovery.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 01244-613683.

Sgt Brian Rogers from Wilmslow Police said officers were involved in a continuing campaign to reduce the number of accidents on the Cat and Fiddle stretch.

"The road is very popular with motorcyclists because of the bends, and we have hundreds up here every weekend," he said.

"The road is very challenging, and although we have succeeded in reducing the number of deaths from the horrendous total a decade ago one is too many."

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