URGENT calls for more safety measures to be installed on the A361 at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, have been made after the road claimed another victim on Tuesday.

A 31-year-old motorcyclist from Avebury died in the crash close to the Beckhampton roundabout and a van driver from Devizes escaped with minor injuries after the collision just before 7.30am.

Paul Robinson, Bishops Cannings Parish Council chairman, called for urgent action to be taken.

He said: "Something has to be done to make people slow down on this road.

"I am not sure exactly what but there needs to be discussions. It may be that some sort of sign telling people how many accidents have happened on that stretch of road would make people think."

Mr Robinson is to bring the safety of the road up with Wiltshire highways boss Philip Whitehead.

Mr Robinson said: "I work in Swindon and use the road at about 4am in the morning but even at that time of the day people drive like lunatics."

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident which happened as the motor cycle and sidecar was travelling towards Devizes and the van was going in the opposite direction.

Both vehicles burst into flames after the impact but the driver of the Ford Transit managed to walk away from the accident with only minor injuries.

The motorcyclist, who was riding a Honda GL, was declared dead at the scene.

Firefighters from Marlborough and Calne were called to the accident along with ambulance crews and police.

Firefighter Adie Cripps, a Marlborough watch manager, said: "This was a particularly nasty accident."

Mr Cripps said the fire in the van was intense when they arrived and the heat had been so extreme that it had melted everything inside and burnt off its signwriting.

But he said the driver had not been trapped and had managed to get out before the fire took hold.

He said: "He had a very lucky escape."

Police said the man had only sustained minor injuries and went to hospital as a precaution.

Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which closed the main road from Swindon to Devizes for most of the day and caused road chaos as drivers tried to find ways around the accident.

A second accident at Compton Bassett at 8.10am added to chaos as many drivers used the A4 as an alternative route.

A police spokesman said: "Formal identification of the motorcyclist has not yet taken place. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

"Road closures were put in place while collision investigators attended the scene. The scene remained closed while debris is cleared from the carriageway."

Anyone who witnessed the collision who has not already spoken to police, should call 101.