A MOTORCYCLIST killed in a tragedy near Huddersfield was a perfectionist who would help anyone.

Rod Morrell died shortly after his red 600cc Honda bike hit a roundabout on Huddersfield Road near West Bretton on Sunday morning. Now his brother, Greg, has spoken about the brother he will miss so much.

Rod, 25, was a motorbike fanatic and worked as a bike mechanic until recently, when he started to train as an electrician. Greg, 31, of Meltham, said: "Rod was my best friend in the world. He was so giving, caring and thoughtful. He's a big loss to me and to so many other people.

"Since he died I have spoken to lots of people who knew him and what they have had to say has been so heart-warming.

"I don't know of anyone who has had a bad word to say about him.

"Rod was a true diamond."

Rod and Greg were born in Coventry and moved with parents, Jo and Michael, to Deighton in 1986. The family later moved to Marsden.

Rod was a pupil at St Patrick's RC Junior And Infant School in Birkby and then went to All Saints High at Bradley Bar before moving to Loughton in Essex with his mum.

Michael lives in Brackenhall and Rod moved back to Huddersfield a couple of years ago. He was living in Waterloo and only two months ago had met a new girlfriend, Angie Buchholz, who lives in Wakefield.

Rod passed his motorbike test as soon as he could and immediately studied to qualify as a bike mechanic. Greg said: "He was incredibly thorough and would even clean the nooks and crannies on his bikes with a toothbrush.

"He rebuilt bikes from scratch and you knew he'd done a perfect job.

"He'd sell them to people he knew and if they couldn't quite afford them he'd drop the price because he knew they really wanted the bike and would look after it.

"He was that kind of bloke and would do anything for anyone and was so meticulous in everything he did."

Rod had worked as a mechanic at DC Motorcycles in Fartown in the past. Bike projects Rod had done on his own included restoring a Yamaha DT 175cc scrambler.

Greg said: "That bike is 25 years old, yet it now looks like new."

But Rod's pride and joy was his 1975 Honda 500cc H1 which he took a year to restore. He sent many parts off to be overhauled by experts or sought replacements from around the world.

"His attention to detail was second to none," said Greg. "He'd had the wheels respoked, several bits rechromed and had even had nuts and bolts re-zinced." Rod enjoyed going to motorbike meetings and one of his favourite journeys was to Sherburn in Elmet in North Yorkshire. His other favourite bikers' meeting was at High Beach in Loughton.

Greg added: "He was not materialistic in the slightest and loved being around people.

"He had been working for an electrical company with a one day a week release at college and loved having a laugh and a joke with his workmates. "They've been lost without him. Everyone is so shocked that he has gone."

Rod loved to play with Greg's eight-year-old daughter, Megan.

"He'd do all the silly things that would make her laugh like tickling her," said Greg. "She's missing him dreadfully. "Rod could make you smile about anything. He could brighten up your day.

"Rod was a free spirit who loved being around people and making them feel happy.

"We could not do enough for each other and I'll miss him so much."

* Rod's funeral will take place at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church in Sheepridge at 9.30am next Wednesday followed by cremation at Huddersfield Crematorium.