A police officer from Bradford has been killed in a crash as he rode a motorcycle to work.

PC Scott Eastwood-Smith, 29, who was serving with the Metropolitan Police, died in hospital after the accident with a car as he travelled to Chiswick police station in west London.

More than 300 colleagues from the Met are expected to attend his funeral at Bradford Cathedral on Friday.

PC Eastwood-Smith was a former pupil at Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge.

Yesterday, the school’s acting headmaster, David Wood, said the school was “shocked and saddened” at the tragic news of the officer’s untimely death.

He had been a student at Bronte House prep school and then Woodhouse Grove, between 1991 and 2000, and was joined there by his younger sisters Kirsty and Rebecca.

Mr Wood said: “He was a lively, intelligent and thoughtful young man who was popular with staff and students alike. He had a zest for life and a wicked sense of humour.”

He said PC Eastwood-Smith achieved four good A-levels, in German, business studies, geography and general studies, and was a sportsman who represented the school at rugby and still returned to play for the former pupils Old Groveians team. He loved football and was a keen Manchester United supporter.

Mr Wood said his family, who live in Eccleshill, had maintained a close connection with the school.

He added: “They are a lovely family and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

PC Eastwood-Smith joined the Metropolitan Police in 2009 and was based at Chiswick as a patrol and response team officer.

A Met spokesman said: “He was a young man who had already achieved much in his life, being a graduate of sports management and law. He had already shown such promise in the service he was considering development for promotion.”

The family have asked for donations to the Metropolitan Police Benevolent Fund and the West Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service.