paying their respects: 15,000 bikers honour our fallen troops

Some 15,000 bikers roared through a market town on Mothering Sunday to honour troops killed in Afghanistan in the biggest ride of its kind.

Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire has come to represent the nation in paying respect to fallen soldiers as they are repatriated back to Britain.

Hundreds line the high street in silence for each funeral cortege that passes through the town on its way from RAF Lyneham to the coroner in Oxford. The crowds gathered along the High Street yesterday to hear the roar of over 10,000 bikers, about half of them with pillion passengers, pass the war memorial .

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The ride, believed to the biggest of its type, has raised more than 100,000 so far for the charity Afghan Heroes.

Wootton Bassett Mayor Steve Bucknell said: “The vast majority of the people of the town fully support what the bikers are doing today. Too many times the town has had to stand still in silence but today is all about noise and movement.”

Laurence Phillips from Afghan Heroes said the event gathered pace after being posted on social networking site Facebook.

“It’s quite a staggering spectacle and an unbelievable show of support for the troops in Afghanistan and a mark of respect for the town of Wootton Bassett,” he said. “I would imagine it is the biggest bike ride of its kind. The bikes have been coming in since 8am.”

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The bikers set off from Hullavington Airfield, Wiltshire in waves of 500 to Wootton Bassett. The police, Ministry of Defence and local authorities joined forces to make sure it passed smoothly.

Opera singer Tim Pitman performed Fields of Green, a song written for Afghan Heroes.

Each biker paid 5 to take part, with some raising more, including one who handed over 750.