Heartbroken sons Christopher and Mark Taylor were today expected to have lead the motorcycle funeral procession in memory of their father John, who tragically died while riding his machine.

The funeral of respected retailer Mr Taylor, 53, who owned Calne motorcycle shop P R Taylor and Sons, was scheduled for this afternoon with bikers meeting outside the shop and riding around the town in tribute to the motorcycle champion.

Father-of-three Mr Taylor, who was British Enduro Champion twice, was riding his motorcycle on the A3102 at Beversbrook on September 6 when he had a heart attack.

Tributes flooded in to Mr Taylor, who was well known in Calne and in the motorcycle circle.

His eldest son Christopher, 29, said: "Myself and my brother Mark will be leading the group of bikes as a mark of respect to my dad.

"We have no idea how many bikers could show up on the day, it could be ten or it could be 200.

"I will be riding my dad's old bike, a KTM 400, and plan to enter the British Enduro Championship this year.

"I will enter every year until I win. I want to carry on in dad's memory.

"I want to be everything he was and more."

The family invited bikers to join the procession and meet outside the motorcycle shop in Wood Street at 1.30pm.

The funeral was arranged for St Mary's Church in Calne and family members were asked for no black clothes to be worn.

Christopher said: "We know dad knew a lot of people that we don't know so at the funeral we are having comment cards so people who used to know dad can fill them out with their messages."

The family have asked for donations for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.