TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a young Test Valley DJ and biker who has died in a crash on a busy trunk road.

Messages of love have been left to 23-year old Joe Wells who died after a crash on the A36 near Landford.

Known among the drum and bass community as Joe Ikon, he was riding to his home on Canada Common, Wellow, when the incident happened.

His black Aprilia 125 motorcycle collided with a red Nissan Juke near the junction with Stock Lane after hours of heavy rain in the area.

The driver of the Nissan car was uninjured but Joe was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where he later died.

The road was closed for several hours while emergency services rushed to the scene at about 5.45pm on Thursday.

Now officers are asking for witnesses to come forward.

Edward Cooper who lives at The Beeches on the corner of the junction didn’t hear the accident take place but heard the air ambulance later.

The 89-year old said: “I was very perturbed by the noise. I looked out the window and the air ambulance was stood by my gate here.

“Then I realised that the poor chap was in quite a serious state for them to come here.”

Since the crash bouquets of flowers and touching messages have been left at the scene and on social media.

One read: “Always loved you, always will. Thank you for being such a big part of my life. I will miss you every day.”

Another said: “I love you with every ounce of my body and I promise to stay strong for you. Love from Lottie.”

His friends Klip and Outlaw, a DJ and music producing duo made up of friends Kiel Lipscombe and Nathan Outlaw, both from Southampton, held a tribute set at The Chapel nightclub in Salisbury.

Joe was due to play a set in Salisbury on Saturday night and had recently been signed up by record label Young Guns.

Kiel, his housemate and friend, said: “He was one of those guys who would go double out of his way to do something. There was nothing that couldn’t be asked of him.

“He had an infectious smile, he was an outgoing, happy chap.”

Kiel, 30, added: “We were just trying to push his name out there. We wanted to push him into places where he wanted to be.”

Last night Joe's family declined to comment.

He said a memorial night would be held later in the year as a tribute to his friend.

Anyone with information is asked to call Wiltshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Joe’s death comes as police launch a motorbike safety initiative.

Hampshire police wants motorcyclists who commute to work to make sure they know how to stay safe.

It comes as Ride to Work Week 2016, organised by the Motorcycle Industry Association, gets underway.

Figures show that most bikers are injured on weekdays at commuting times. Most injured riders are men aged 16-25 or 45-55,they ride 50cc-125cc motorcycles or scooters or motorcycles greater than 500cc.

Sgt Rob Heard said: “There is little relationship between age and the type of motorcycle being ridden; young commuter riders are injured on high powered motorcycles.

“This does not mean these riders are less experienced or worse, it means they encounter more risky situations.

“The best advice is to continually update your skills whether that’s with a course or by watching motorcycle safety films produced by experts.”