A BIKER who died after a motorway crash had been married for only two months.

Kirk Lee's heartbroken widow, Lin, today paid tribute to a "great guy", who was her soulmate as well as the love of her life.

The devoted couple, who were married at York Register Office on June 13, had just been to show Kirk's brother their wedding photographs when the tragedy happened.

Kirk, 47, was on his 900cc Suzuki, with Lin riding pillion, when they were in collision with a car on the M62, near Huddersfield.

Kirk, of Silver Street, Riccall, was in intensive care for three weeks before finally losing his fight for life.

Lin, 38, who escaped with two broken arms and fractured ribs, said: "He was such a caring, generous, compassionate man, who was popular with everyone he met.

"Everybody who knew him said they had never seen him so happy as when we got together."

The couple, who had both been married twice before, met after a friend set up a "blind date" on the Internet.

Lin said: "We met a couple of months after chatting on the net and it really was love at first sight.

"We were made for each other and I just can't imagine life without him."

Kirk was a psychiatric nurse at Stockton Hall secure psychiatric unit, near York.

He was also the carer of Lin, who is registered disabled, and used to live in York before moving to Riccall 15 years ago.

Lin said: "We were on our way home from Kirk's brother's house when the accident happened, planning a night in front of the fire with a bottle of red wine.

"He proposed to me in Minorca in May last year. It was all very romantic as he sat me down in front of a stunning sunset and got down on one knee.

"I had found the man of my dreams and thought we would grow old together."

The couple have eight children from their previous marriages, ranging in age from ten to 18. Five of them attend Barlby High School.

The funeral will be held on Thursday at York Crematorium.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, September 03, 2003