A 20-year-old former saltash.net school student who died after his motorcycle was in collision with a tanker has been praised for his desire to help and support others.

Adam Smart, from Saltash, died on Tuesday night as a result of injuries he suffered when his Kawasaki Ninja Z600 motorcycle was in collision with a CSG Sealand waste tanker on the A38 Carkeel roundabout.

Speaking about the tragedy, a spokesman for saltash.net school told the Cornish Times: 'It was with great sadness that we received the news that Adam had lost his fight for life following the traffic accident on Monday.

'Our immediate thoughts are with his close family and friends to whom we send sincere condolences.

'Having spent all seven years of his secondary education at saltash.net, he is someone we will remember warmly, particularly for his consistent desire to help and support others.

'As a sixth form student, he was exemplary in his commitment to school life and the wider community. An all-round excellent sportsman, he represented the school at a national level for trampolining.

'He showed true dedication in support of numerous charitable causes and he was also always there to support any friend in need whenever the occasion arose.

'Adam's final sixth form report summed him up as someone who adopted a positive approach to life being 'friendly, cheerful, considerate and helpful'.

Adam sustained serious injuries in the collision and was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The accident took place at about 7.45am and the A38 was closed on the Liskeard side along with one lane of the Saltash Tunnel, resulting in major tailbacks while police investigators studied and recorded the scene.

The road was eventually reopened shortly after 2pm.

The cause of the collision is being investigated by the force serious collisions investigation unit and officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone with information to contact them on 101.