A MOTORCYCLIST was killed when he swerved across a road and crashed through fencing into a field last night.

Marc Simon Burke, aged 22, suffered multiple injuries in the accident in Broadhead Road, Edgworth.

Police say Mr Burke, of Adrian Road, Bolton, was riding his Suzuki 250 bike with a group of other motorcyclists when the tragedy happened.

And, in a separate incident in Whitefield, detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a man who was discovered lying on a motorway carriageway.

The fatal accident in Bolton happened as a group of motor cyclists -- including Mr Burke -- were strung out along the road travelling towards Pickup Bank at 6.25pm.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said that Mr Burke swerved across the carriageway, left the road and collided with fencing and boulders in a field. He died of multiple injuries.

She said no other vehicles were involved and it was not known why Mr Burke lost control of his motorbike.

The road was closed for two hours as accident investigators examined the scene.

The accident has devastated Mr Burke's family who were too upset to speak about the tragedy today.

Police also sealed off a carriageway of the M60, near junction 17 at Whitefield, at 2.40am today, after the body of a 38-year-old man was discovered.

The man from the Liverpool area, who has not been named, was found lying close to where a bridge crosses the motorway. A woman also from Liverpool, who is believed to have been sitting in a car nearby, was arrested by police on suspicion of manslaughter.

Road diversions were set up but there were long tailbacks during the morning rush hour around the motorway network.

A police spokesman said the full circumstances leading to the man's death have not been established.

"But the death is being treated as suspicious. A woman has been arrested and she is awaiting interview."