THE Waterworks bends on the A339 between Alton and Basingstoke have claimed another victim, as a motorcyclist sustained a broken neck in an accident on Saturday.

The 37-year-old man from the Basingstoke area was travelling towards Basingstoke from Alton on his 1,000 cc Yamaha at around 3-50 pm. While negotiating a left hand bend, the rider collided with an on-coming car. Police attended and the road was closed for three-and-a-half hours.

The driver of the Peugeot 106, a 19-year-old woman also from the Basingstoke area, suffered minor injuries, but the motorcyclist suffered a broken neck, severe arm injuries and broken ribs.

Both of the injured were taken to the North Hampshire Hospital at Basingstoke, and the motorcyclist's current condition is described as 'stable'.

This accident comes almost a month after another motorcyclist was tragically killed on the same bend. Alan Walton (49) of Basingstoke was killed on Wednesday, July 11, when his motorcycle collided with a car coming in the opposite direction.

Traffic management officer at Whitehill Pc Eric Martin said: "We know that this bend is one that drivers tend to take a bit too fast. There are long straights and long, sweeping bends either side, and then one is faced with a relatively sharp bend, which is easy to misjudge. The sharp bend is well sign posted and well surfaced, but people still misjudge it.

"I cannot say however whether this was a factor in either of these incidents yet though, as investigations are still being conducted.

"The bend is currently being looked at by myself and the county council, in terms of safety and how the situation can be improved.

"Our four-year speed camera placement cycle is coming up, so we are looking at the possibility and feasibility of placing a camera nearby to calm traffic speed, but this is still very much in the review stage. If it were to happen, it would be in the next financial year."