A HEARTBROKEN family have spoken of their devastation after a dad-of-two was killed on his motorbike, only minutes after tucking his young children into bed.

Hundreds of friends and family were expected to gather today at the funeral of Phillip Jackson, who died aged only 35 when his 600cc bike crashed outside Leeds as he headed to Squires Cafe, near Sherburn-in-Elmet, a famous biker haunt.

Donations will be collected for York Hospital’s special care baby unit as a gesture of thanks for the care “fun, loving and kind“ Phillip and his twin brother, Neil, received when they were born 11 weeks prematurely.

Phillip’s father, David Jackson, 63, and mother Susan, 62, of Bishopthorpe, York, paid tribute to a “loving and popular” son.

They said they received a phone call from police telling them of the tragic accident on the evening of Wednesday, May 19, with Mr Jackson saying: “I cannot describe that call. It is too hard to put into words. We are all just absolutely devastated.”

The accident happened at about 7.40pm when Phillip was riding his Honda CBR 600 towards Garforth on the A642 Wakefield road at Swillington.

Phillip lost control of the motorbike and crashed into a hedgerow and signpost at the side of the road. He died at the scene.

“We still don’t really know what happened,” said Mr Jackson. “We know that he got in from work, tucked his two kids in to bed and then headed out on his way to Squire’s biker café. Family was his great first love and motorbikes were his second. He loved his job and he was a very popular person. He has hundreds of friends and he was a fun, loving and kind person.” Phillip, who grew up in York, moved to Morley, Leeds, six years ago. He married his wife, Ann, three years ago and had two children Liam, five, and Sadie, two.

He attended Tang Hall Primary School and Archbishops Holgate’s CE School before becoming a constructions worker for cycle path charity Sustrans.

His funeral will be held at Cottingley Hall Crematorium, Leeds.