POLICE have confirmed a man has died after a single-vehicle crash which closed the A39 in West Somerset for several hours on Saturday (July 18).

The man, aged in his 40s, was riding a motorcycle near the Cottage Inn, Keenthorne, shortly before 1 pm when the incident happened.

The road was closed in both directions between Nether Stowey and Cannington while a large emergency services response was mobilised,.

Nether Stowey firefighters were called out, but their presence was in the end not needed.

Paramedics fought to save the man’s life, but he was declared dead at the scene.

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesperson said the motorcyclist’s next of kin had been told and were being supported.

The road was reopened later in the day after accident investigators examined the scene and the damaged motorcycle was recovered.

Motorists took to side roads to try to find a way around the closure which led to narrow lanes becoming blocked and smaller communities experiencing severe congestion.