Bikers a wheel sight to behold

The motorbike enthusiasts were taking part in Fylde Bike Meet’s 10th lights ride, which saw hundreds of pounds raised for the North West Air Ambulance.

Visitors to the resort stopped and stared as the two wheeled cavalcade cruised down the seafront from 7.45pm on Monday.

Hundreds of bikes of all shapes and sizes set off after meeting at St Annes Square from 6.30pm and finished at New Norbreck Chippy in Cleveleys, where they tucked into fish and chips before making their own way home.

It was the second large bike convey to go through the lights this month and the largest the town has seen for a decade.

Rob Booth, who chairs the Fylde Bike Meet’s committee, said 50cc mopeds to 2,300cc Triumph Rockets were ridden by learners through to gents in their 70s and 80s were welcomed by tram drivers beeping their horns and pedestrians waving.

“We always get a good reception,” he said. “We got between 500 and 550 bikes taking part, it was really bombed out. It was great.

“As the first lot were finishing at Red Bank Road [in Bispham] there were still people going past Central Pier.

“It was the first time in about eight years we have had nice weather.”

Mr Booth, 46, and who lives in Newton Drive, Blackpool, said the prom was ‘noticeably quieter’ than it was than when the group first rode through the lights.

He said: “Ten years ago it was wall to wall with people all the way down, but this time it was only when we got to the Tower and North Pier that there was a number of people.”

A number of riders had to stop on the prom while their engines cooled down - overheating can be a problem when bikes travel at low speed for a period of time - but the event was enjoyed by most.

Darren Roberts travelled from Widnes to take part and said he had an ‘absolutely cracking night’.

“I can’t thank everyone involved in organising this legendary event enough,” he added.

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