POLICE say there is no indication to suggest the wire which killed a teenage off-road motorcyclist was placed to cause deliberate harm.

Ryan Acaster died after his off-road motorcycle hit a wire suspended between two trees on private farmland in Crossens, Southport.

The 17-year-old, of Brinscall, near Chorley, was found lying beside the bike with severe head injuries.

He was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital on Sunday, but died shortly afterwards.

It had been suggested the wire could be a booby trap.

But a spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said there was no indication at present to suggest the wire was placed to cause deliberate harm.

Ryan’s family were yesterday said to be "devastated’’ at their loss.

The curtains were drawn at the family home, a red-brick, semi-detached house in the village of Brinscall, shared by Ryan, his mother Dianne and brother Sean.

Ryan had been visiting his father, Dean, who has separated from his mother, at his home in Southport.

The youngster, who worked for a local builder, had been keen on horses but was "always messing around with motorbikes", according to a family member at the house.

The teenager owned the motorbike he was killed on, and was with friends taking turns to ride the bike when the accident happened.

A family member at the house said they had been given no details yet by police as to the circumstances of the accident.

He added, "His mother is devastated. She is in no state to do anything. The police haven’t told us much, we are waiting for them to call."