A Bramford motorcyclist has been charged with causing the death of his pillion passenger through dangerous driving by having a defective rear tyre.

Sue Wright, of St Edmund's Road, Southwold, died after a single-vehicle crash in Peasenhall Road, Walpole, near Halesworth.

The tragedy occurred on July 14 last year.

The 60-year-old was on the pillion of a Kawasaki VN 1500 C2 being ridden by Mark Kepler.

Kepler, who was airlifted to hospital after sustaining injuries as a result of the crash, is due to appear before Ipswich Crown Court next month.

The 56-year-old, of Hibbard Road, Bramford, was summonsed to appear before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich to be formally charged.

The summons was issued following an investigation by Suffolk Constabulary's serious collision investigation team.

Kepler is accused of causing the death of Sue Wright.

It is said his motorcycle was involved in a low speed crash on a quiet rural road caused by the 'catastrophic failure of the rear tyre due to previous poor maintenance'. This led to the death of his pillion passenger.

Kepler is currently on bail and is due to make his first appearance before the crown court for a preliminary hearing on May 8.

Police were called to Peasenhall Road shortly after 6pm on July 14.

Officers made attempts to resuscitate Ms Wright, a mother-of-two. However, she died at the scene.

Kepler was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. He sustained broken ribs as a result of the crash and was initially described as being in a stable condition.

A police cordon was in place as the inquiry began to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Peasenhall Road was closed in both directions between the Bramfield Road and Halesworth Road junctions for some while after the tragedy to allow for the investigation work to take place.

Following the tragedy Ms Wright's family released a tribute to her.

It read: 'Sue was kind, loving and full of life. She enjoyed weekends away in her camper-van, socialising and the occasional drink. She will be dearly missed by her two children Christopher and Marie-Louise and her father Sidney.'