THE heartbroken father of an Osbaldwick man whose body was found in a ditch off a country lane in York has made a plea for witnesses to come forward.

Norman Dixon has called for anyone with information regarding the death of his 21-year-old son Kevin to contact police.

He said: "Kevin was a bright, lively young man who had the whole of his life ahead of him.

"If anyone has any information about what happened to him I would urge them to come forward."

Kevin went missing on Wednesday prompting a search of both North and West Yorkshire by police, friends and family.

In the early hours of Friday morning a police officer patrolling the Murton area discovered Kevin's body along with his blue Yamaha motorbike in a ditch off Moor Lane.

Police are now desperate to find out what happened to Kevin in the hours he was unaccounted for.

They know Kevin picked up his motor bike from the centre of York at 4pm but have no information beyond this.

TC Iain Atkinson said: "There is a time gap from the Wednesday when he picked up his bike and when he was found on Friday.

"We are trying to narrow a time down so we can find out when the accident happened."

"I would ask anyone who saw him in and around the city to come forward."

At the time of the accident Kevin was wearing a blue jacket, beige trousers and a white crash helmet.

Police also want to speak to anyone who uses Moor Lane regularly and noticed a gap in the hedges.

TC Atkinson said: "Anyone who uses that road and has seen the hole in the hedges, even if they dismissed it, I would ask them to come forward."

Anyone with information should phone (01904) 631321.

Kevin's funeral will take place at Osbaldwick Church, on Friday, at 11am, followed by a burial in the churchyard at Murton.

Updated: 08:44 Wednesday, July 03, 2002