Renewed calls have been made for traffic lights at Beaminster Tunnel following the death of a 65-year-old motorcyclist on Sunday.

The Wincanton man, who has yet to be named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency services were called at around 10.15am to the A3066 and the road was closed for around five hours.

Dorset Police said the man died after he lost control of his motorbike and collided with the tunnel parapet.

The causes of death is being investigated.

Ex-Beaminster Town Council chairman Douglas Beazer said the council has asked for years for censor-controlled traffic lights at the tunnel.

He said lights would help by slowing traffic down, prevent lorries meeting in the narrow tunnel and protect the Grade II listed tunnel.

He said: “It is quite a sharp bend on both ends of that tunnel. If the lights were put in some way back in either direction it would have the knock on effect of slowing traffic down.

“We have tried that for a long time but Dorset County Council has said time and time again that it would cost too much money.

“Our pleas fell on deaf ears.

“The problem is that with all these road improvements I think they work it on a point system and if you get somebody killed that knocks your points up but I don’t understand why something like that has to happen before they make road improvements.

“It is easy enough to say people ought to slow down but if there were traffic lights there controlled by censors they would have to obey the traffic lights.”

Eyewitnesses described seeing a police car and van on the scene close to the tunnel and the two roads leading to Tunnel Road were blocked off with cones.

Chief Inspector Guy Shimmons of Dorset Police said: “At approximately 10.15am on Sunday, a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision occurred at Beaminster on the A3066 at the north entrance to the Beaminster Tunnel.

“At this time a green Honda motorcycle was travelling towards Beaminster when the rider lost control and collided with the tunnel parapet.

“The rider, a 65-year-old male from Wincanton, sadly died at the scene.

“His next of kin have been informed.

He added: “Witnesses to either the collision or manner or riding prior to the collision are asked to contact PC 2464 Tatton at Dorset Police traffic unit on 101.”

The air ambulance and land ambulances were called to the crash.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “Any traffic management issues should initially be channelled through the town council. They will contact our highways team and a safety assessment will be carried out against national criteria. If it meets the criteria and the budget is available then we will action the findings.”

Anyone with information about the accident should contact police on the 101 number.