BIKE enthusiasts and those just wanting a family day out gathered at Ramsbottom Cricket Club for one of the country’s biggest motorcycle festivals.

The seventh annual North Manchester Custom & Classic Bike Show came back to the Acre Bottom ground to show off some of the best motors on two wheels and fill the day with fun.

The event, which saw thousands flock to the cricket club, was to raise money for Bury Hospice.

Last year the event raised over £1,000 and, although organisers have not finished counting donations yet, it is hoped to raise a similar figure this year.

Jayne Leech, one of the show’s organisers, said: “It was a really good day, we were a bit unlucky with the weather so there weren’t quite as many down as last year, but we’ve still raised a lot I’m sure.”

Of course, the bikes were the biggest attraction but there were also street stalls from businesses in the area and activities for all the family, including bouncy castles and a bucking bronco.

“We’re pleased to be able to do something for the hospice but it’s also nice to promote local businesses by having stalls up,” added Ms Leech.

The North Manchester, Custom & Classic Bike Show was founded in 2010, as a successor to The Original Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show.

The original show grew to become Europe's largest one-day motorcycle event, and for 15 years filled the streets of Rawtenstall with bikes and attracted up to 65,000 people to the area.

Organisers say the show’s true ethos has always been to promote biking, the Rossendale and surrounding area and to raise as much money as possible for charity, but as the bike show became more successful, the organisation was taken over by business and political interests and the true bikers lost control of the show.

Ms Leech added: “The bikes are amazing and there is something timeless about them and we all want to share that with the community.

“They are classic, like a classic song, they are always great and they stay with you.”