A NOTORIOUS accident blackspot in Chiddingfold has claimed its second victim in just over six months.

Motorcyclist Nigel Skinner (48), a policeman who was married with two teenage children and a five-year-old son, died following an accident outside the Winterton Arms on the A283 at Chiddingfold last Thursday night.

The accident happened at 7-40 pm when his green Triumph motorcycle was in collision with a blue Mercedes.

Police, firefighters from Dunsfold and a number of ambulances were called to the scene and a section of the A283 was closed for several hours with local diversions set up.

Mr Skinner, a police constable from Aldwick near Bognor, was returning home from Woking police station where he worked in the vulnerable persons unit.

Following the collision, Mr Skinner was taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford with serious internal injuries. Despite lengthy surgery to save his life, Mr Skinner was pronounced dead just after 1-30 am on Friday.

The car driver was uninjured.

Police told The Herald on Tuesday that a man was helping them with their enquiries.

The incident is the second fatal accident outside the public house since a young father of 32 was killed in August of last year.

Darren Knott (32) from Hambledon died when the car he was driving was in collision with another vehicle within yards of where the latest accident happened.

A long-time friend of the latest victim, who did not wish to be named, said that Mr Skinner, who was believed to have been looking forward to retirement later this year "was the most professional police officer".

"He was very, very popular with his colleagues at all levels and renowned for his sense of humour."

"His passions in life were his family, his job and motorcycling," said the friend.

"He was an experienced and competent rider, had ridden thousands of miles and was a frequent visitor to the Isle of Mann TT Races," he said.

"Nigel moved eight months ago to the Bognor area and had been commuting to Working to work since then."

The friend said Mr Skinner was due to retire in December after completing 30 years in the police force.

The police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the accident, or who was in the area just before or just after the accident, to contact Sgt David Hughes at the Surrey police collision investigation unit on 01932 569922.