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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bikers in Wootton Bassett tribute | Bikers in Wootton Bassett tribute |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Motorcyclists have started a ride to Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. | Motorcyclists have started a ride to Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. |
| Each of the 10,000 bikers is paying £5 to take part and the proceeds will go to the charity Afghan Heroes. | Each of the 10,000 bikers is paying £5 to take part and the proceeds will go to the charity Afghan Heroes. |
| The bikers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire earlier. | The bikers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire earlier. |
| The first batch of 500 riders left the airfield at 1100 GMT to ride to Wootton Basset via the M4 motorway. The event will last all day. | |
| About 10,000 bikers registered to take part, but the number at the scene is thought to be higher. | About 10,000 bikers registered to take part, but the number at the scene is thought to be higher. |
| 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'. | 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.'" | "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 was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens. | The Bike Run 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 is riding pillion on her partner's 1200 Harley Davidson Sportster, is one of the riders leading the run. | Ms Stevens, who is riding pillion on her partner's 1200 Harley Davidson Sportster, is 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. |
| 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 on the M4. | The Highways Agency said motorists would encounter increased traffic throughout the day especially around junctions 16 and 17 on the M4. |
| A police spokesman said there might be traffic delays throughout the day. | A police spokesman said there might be traffic delays throughout the day. |