BIKER Bill's funeral proved to be a memorable occasion as a cavalcade of 50 motorcycles accompanied his hearse to Trowbridge's Holy Trinity Church.

Around 200 people turned out for the service on Friday and lined the procession route as it made its way along Newtown, which had been cordoned off by police.

Biker Bill, 56, whose real name was William Hill, left a huge impression on Trowbridge during his life and Friday's events ensured he will live long in the town's memory.

After Mr Hill's burial at Trowbridge Cemetery friends and family headed back for refreshments in a marquee at The Ship pub, just yards from his former home.

His friend Lindsay Ackland said: "We were really happy with it, it was a brilliant day. I doubt Trowbridge will see something like this again.

"Loads of people came back to The Ship in the evening. We locked up Bill's house at 1.30am and just left people in the marquee.

"We found one person asleep there at 9.15am next morning and told him Bill would have been proud of him."

Mr Hill moved to Trowbridge 20 years ago, and with interests ranging from motorbikes and science fiction to piranha fish and kite flying, he soon became a very popular figure.

Friend Andrew Pepler said: "Bill was known on every single estate in Trowbridge and possibly Westbury, Warminster and Melksham as well."