BIKES of all shapes and sizes descended on the centre of Calne over the weekend as the annual Calne Bike Meet got well and truly underway.

Thousands of leather clad bike enthusiasts young and old took to the town to celebrate the annual event, which is hailed as the biggest free bike meet in Europe.

As well as activities in the centre of Calne, the meet also played host to a number of bands, stallholders and entertainers, ensuring there was something for everything on Saturday.

This year, the town centre was so full of bikes, those who arrived later in the day had to park up on The Green by The White Hart.

Calne Bike Meet Committee member Desmond Bye, said: “There were well over 4,000 bikes there, we had a fantastic day.”

“All the bike clubs come, and even though it is a bike event it is a family event because people bring their kids and they can sit on the bikes and get their pictures taken.

“They love it.

“A couple of pubs also had live music on the day too.

“By 8pm that evening you wouldn’t even know there had been £4,000 bikes there, there was no rubbish.

“The Calne Clean Up Crew helped us as well.

“There were a lot of people helping us and we thank them all.

“We think it is tremendous for the charities - it is like a little Christmas for them.”

All of the money raised will be split between three charities, The Freewheelers, bikes taking blood supplies to hospitals, the Royal British Legion, and disability youth group in Calne, A Place 4 Us.

Last year they raised an amazing £9,000 and hope to top that this year.

Johnson and Daltrey, the independent family funeral service,were raising funds for wheelchair footballer Dan Wheeler from Calne, who needs a new chair.

They raised £534.54 towards his £7,000 target.

Town Mayor Cllr Glenis Ansell, said: “I thought it was amazing. There were more bikes than we have had before.

“The town was full and I am sure businesses and traders did wonderfully well.”There was a great atmosphere.”