POLICE have renewed appeals for witnesses after a motorcycle crash at the top of Kingshill Road claimed the lives of two people yesterday.

The incident happened at around 12.30pm between the junctions with Exmouth Street and Clifton Street.

Two men, a rider and his passenger, were travelling on a white Honda motorcycle before they crashed.

The bike, which ended up in the carriageway some distance along the road, was bearing L-plates at the time.

Both men sustained serious injuries in the incident and, despite the best efforts of medical teams, were pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Such was the seriousness of the incident that air ambulances were dispatched alongside three land ambulances and a paramedic rapid response vehicle.

The helicopters landed on playing fields at the nearby Commonweal School from where a team of critical care medics were conveyed to the scene.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that firefighters from Swindon and Westlea were called to assist the paramedics with heavy lifting equipment and were on the scene within minutes.

A number of police officers, including specialist roads policing units, also attended.

Members of the public and first responders appeared shaken by what they had witnessed, with one describing the crash and its aftermath as “horrific”.

Police officers could be seen consoling witnesses a short distance from the scene.

Firefighters erected a blue tarpaulin screen across the road on either side of the incident while they worked.

Kingshill Road was closed in both directions from William Street to Okus Road and remained closed into the evening.

Buses and other traffic were diverted away from the area.

Sgt Andrew Moreton, lead collision investigator from Wiltshire Police, said: “I would appeal for anyone who was around the area at the time to let us know if they witnessed anything which might be relevant, or saw any unusual driving in the area around the time of the collision.

“A thorough investigation into the cause of the collision is being carried out and I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw the motorbike prior to the collision.”

Officers are asking for anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken them, or anyone who has dash cam footage from the area at the time, to call the force non-emergency line on 101.

Information can also be left with Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.