Around 50 leather-clad bikers descended on Wootton Bassett High Street at the weekend in support of the Royal British Legion.

The riders, members of Wiltshire’s Royal British Legion Riders Branch, combine their love for motorcycles with support for service men and women and other charities.

They had been invited to Wootton Bassett by mayor John Bucknell as part of the Brilliant Bassett campaign to bring shoppers into town on Saturdays.

Coun Bucknell invited the Riders to set up a stall outside the town hall on behalf of the British Legion and Poppy Appeal.

He said: “They are a good bunch of guys and present the British Legion in a very positive light.” Bill Hayley, county spokesman for the Riders, said Wiltshire is one of the most active units of the national group which was set up in 2004 to take part in various fund raising activities, including a Poppy Run to war graves in France and Belgium. Mr Hayley added: “People tend to be suspicious of big hairy bikers but, with the invitation to Wootton Bassett, many people asked us what we were doing.” The Riders Branch has 125 members in Wiltshire but is keen to attract more.

Members were at the recent RAF Lyneham Family Day and on September 5 will be at College Farm, Watchfield, raising money for injured commandos.