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| Bikers in Wootton Bassett tribute | Bikers in Wootton Bassett tribute |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nearly 15,000 motorcyclists are due to converge on Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. | Nearly 15,000 motorcyclists are due to converge on Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. |
| With each biker paying £5 to take part, organisers expect to raise £75,000 for the charity Afghan Heroes. | With each biker paying £5 to take part, organisers expect to raise £75,000 for the charity Afghan Heroes. |
| The mass convoy will meet on the M4, before passing slowly through Wootton Bassett in staggered groups of 2,000. | The mass convoy will meet on the M4, before passing slowly through Wootton Bassett in staggered groups of 2,000. |
| Local MP James Gray said people in the town appreciated the gesture and were "very supportive of it indeed". | Local MP James Gray said people in the town appreciated the gesture and were "very supportive of it indeed". |
| He added: "Initially when I heard about this I was worried about it because I thought, 'well, it's going to be an enormous amount of noise'. | |
| "But what people said to me was, 'well, look, this is going to raise something like £75,000 altogether for this brilliant charity, Afghan Heroes.'" | |
| Denise Harris, the founder of Afghan Heroes, said troops on the front line had sent her e-mails backing the event. | Denise Harris, the founder of Afghan Heroes, said troops on the front line had sent her e-mails backing the event. |
| She told the BBC: "It boosts morale for them. I mean they just are so grateful to the general public for their support, and their kindness." | She told the BBC: "It boosts morale for them. I mean they just are so grateful to the general public for their support, and their kindness." |
| Public safety | Public safety |
| The Bike Run, which has attracted thousands of motorcyclists from across north Wales, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the south-east England, was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens. | The Bike Run, which has attracted thousands of motorcyclists from across north Wales, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the south-east England, was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens. |
| The ride was organised by Elizabeth Stevens, 18, pictured with her partner | The ride was organised by Elizabeth Stevens, 18, pictured with her partner |
| Ms Stevens, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends. | Ms Stevens, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends. |
| "Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run," she said in January, "so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it's just taken off". | "Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run," she said in January, "so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it's just taken off". |
| Ms Stevens, who will be riding pillion on her partner's 1200 Harley Davidson Sportster, will be one of the riders leading the run. | Ms Stevens, who will be riding pillion on her partner's 1200 Harley Davidson Sportster, will be one of the riders leading the run. |
| Wiltshire Police Chief Inspector Owen Gillard said the force was working with the Ministry of Defence and Wiltshire Council to ensure public safety. | Wiltshire Police Chief Inspector Owen Gillard said the force was working with the Ministry of Defence and Wiltshire Council to ensure public safety. |
| Riders were due to congregate from 0800 GMT and the ride will start on the runway at Hullavington Airfield (A429) before proceeding to the A429 (north west to Burton Hill), B4042 (Priory Roundabout to Callows Cross), Callow Hill to White Hill Lane and the A3102 to Wootton Bassett. | |
| The last riders are expected to arrive at Wootton Bassett at about 1800 GMT. | The last riders are expected to arrive at Wootton Bassett at about 1800 GMT. |
| The Highways Agency said motorists would encounter increased traffic throughout the day especially around junctions 16 and 17. | The Highways Agency said motorists would encounter increased traffic throughout the day especially around junctions 16 and 17. |
| A police spokesman said there might be traffic delays throughout the day. | A police spokesman said there might be traffic delays throughout the day. |