A desperate plea for more helpers and sponsorship has been issued by the organisers of Calne’s motorcycle meet, one of its biggest annual events.

The festival of music, food and biking, run by Calne Rotary Club on July 23 this year, has been going for more than a decade and brings up to 3,000 riders and more than £150,000 to the town.

The event also raises money for charity, with around £3,000 expected to go to a mixture of local and biker organisations.

But, while visitor numbers continue to rise, volunteers and sponsors are at a premium.

Ivor Watkins, a founding organiser, said: “When we first started it, the aim was really to put Calne on the map and I think we have achieved that.

“We have gone from having 800 bikers in the first year to between 2,000 and 3,000. People all over the country know about it.

“It’s not that we want it to get any bigger because we wouldn’t have the room. We just want to be able to cope with the demand we already have. We have lost a couple of members from the Rotary Club and with the event getting so big we need more help.”

The meet needs stewards and anybody who would like to help with administration.

Mr Watkins said: “We are already behind on the admin side as we need to book all of the motorbike clubs in, and the town is so busy on the day, with bikes parked all around the centre, so we need enough stewards to make sure everyone is safe.”

On sponsorship Mr Watkins said: “Deceuninck (PVC door and window designers) are our main sponsors, and they have been great for us, but we do need more support.

“If any businesses are interested in sponsoring the event or advertising in the programme, we would like to hear from them.”

Wiltshire councillor Howard Marshall, president of the Rotary Club, who is heavily involved in organising the meet, said: “It is the only event of its kind in the south west and if we have a sunny day we will probably run out of space to accommodate everyone, it is so popular.

“Every business in the town benefits from it and it is the one day of the year the pubs and restaurants make this much money.”

Anyone interested in volunteering or who would like to sponsor the event can contact Coun Marshall on 07941425271 or visit www.calnemotorcycle meet.co.uk