THE mother of a motorcyclist who died in a car crash last night described how she was “incredibly proud” of her son.

Former Merchant Taylors’ School pupil James Rogers died in hospital after his Yamaha motorbike collided with a car in Ormskirk Road, Aintree, on October 16.

The 18-year-old’s mother Darrell said she was overwhelmed by hundreds of tributes to him from friends on Facebook.

She said: “I didn’t realise he was such a good friend to so many people.

“The comments on Facebook are absolutely inspiring and show what a unique and loving person he was to so many people.”

James, of Ormskirk, won a scholarship to attend Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby.

Darrell said: “Anything he tried his hand at, he could do – football, rugby, swimming, triathlon, horse riding.

“He rode at Croxteth Country Park and played rugby for Merchant Taylors’, Waterloo and at county level.

“He also loved music – you could give him an instrument and he would instinctively be able to play it.”

James planned to travel in Europe on his motorbike before considering a career in law or the military.