Dancer Jonathan Ollivier has been killed in a motorbike crash hours before he was due to perform in the final show of Matthew Bourne's 'The Car Man'.

He died after his motorbike collided with a car in Clerkenwell in central London just after 11am on Sunday.

Paramedics tried to save Ollivier (38), but he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before noon.

The driver of the car - a black Mercedes saloon - was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ollivier was due to perform as the lead, Luca, in 'The Car Man' at Sadler's Wells Theatre on Sunday evening.

The show was cancelled, with theatre-goers turned away at the door. His fellow cast were said to be "shaken" after the accident.

Ollivier, from Northampton, had been praised by critics for his performance in 'The Car Man'.

He also previously won plaudits as the lead Swan in Bourne's all-male 'Swan Lake'.

His sister Rachel Ollivier wrote on Facebook: "To all my beautiful little bro friends, it is with a heavy heart that we have to tell you that Jon tragically died today. We love him and will miss him massively xx".

In an e-mail to patrons, the Sadler's Wells Theatre said: "On behalf of the company New Adventures, we regret to inform patrons that tonight's performance of The Car Man at Sadler's Wells has had to be cancelled due to a tragic accident earlier today."

"While due process is being followed we are unable to give further information however we offer our sincere condolences to those concerned."

"New Adventures and Sadler's Wells are sorry for the inconvenience caused to patrons due to attend tonight's performance."

Ollivier studied at the Rambert Ballet School and after graduating in 1996, he joined CAPAB (now the Cape Town City Ballet Company) before returning to the UK to join Northern Ballet Theatre (now Northern Ballet).

In 2007, he joined the Alberta Ballet Company as a principal dancer.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash or may have information regarding the collision.