THE body of a motorcyclist was discovered on one of the Forest's main roads in the early hours of last Thursday (June 12).

The rider, who had been travelling on the A4136 in the direction of Ross-on-Wye, was discovered between Nailbridge and Brierley.

The road was closed for around four hours causing queues of traffic along Valley Road to the St White's Road junction in Cinderford.

The road was re-opened at around 8.50am. The dead man is believed to be 50-year-old and from Hereford.

One Cinderford motorist was attempting to get to Lydney via Speech House, and said: "I left home at about 8.20am and as I passed The Forge Hammer pub on Victoria Street I knew something wasn't right as there was a queue of standstill traffic on Valley Road. When somebody eventually let me out of the junction, the traffic was stop-start all the way to the end of the road for about 10 to 15 minutes.

"There didn't appear to be an accident or traffic lights causing the queues which made it even strange."

Police are appealing to anyone who may have any information on the incident to call Gloucestershire Police on 101, quoting incident 50 of June 12.