Joy as Dave Myers' tribute ride raises £127k

Thousands of bikers travelled from London to Dave Myers' home town of Barrow earlier this year

The biking community has expressed joy after a tribute ride in memory of TV chef Dave Myers raised £127,000 for charity.

More than 20,000 bikers travelled from London to Myers' home town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in June for an event called Dave Day.

The money raised has been split between charities the NSPCC and the Institute of Cancer Research.

During the event, fellow Hairy Biker Si King said: "Dave would be enormously proud of you, you're a good bunch."

The charity ride was organised following Myers' death in February aged 66, two years after he revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Lynne Martin who cheered on the bikers as they arrived in Barrow described it as "an amazing day and a staggering amount of money raised".

Her son, daughter and son-in-law also took part in the ride.

One biker who took part posted online it was "an amazing amount and an amazing day for an amazing person".

Si King and Dave Myers made up the popular TV chef duo, The Hairy Bikers

In a post on Instagram, King, along with Myers' wife Lili, thanked people who helped raise the money.

"It's a remarkable figure, that's gone to charities," he said.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dave would be enormously proud of you."

Mrs Myers added: "And also don't forget the two charities that are doing such amazing work, they are benefiting and so many lives are going to be helped, so thank you."

Thousands of people gathered in Barrow for the Dave Day celebration

Jason (Woody) Woodcock, Myers' friend who was instrumental in organising Dave Day, said the total of just over £127,300, was "astonishing".

They had originally expected 5,000 bikers to take part, and had hoped to raise £5,000.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mr Woodcock said: "It's a phenomenal amount of money, we never dreamed we'd raise that much, we'd never dreamed we'd have so many bikes.

"Well done and have a Dave Day, I love you all."

The NSPCC said it had received more than £89,000 to date from Dave Day funds raised.

Chief executive Sir Peter Wanless thanked fundraisers, adding: "Events like this play an essential part in raising the vital funds we need to keep our services going for all the children and young people who need our help."

Dave Day organiser Jason (Woody) Woodcock said an "astonishing" amount of money had been raised

Meanwhile, the Institute of Cancer Research said it had received an "incredible" £63,169.

"We feel so honoured to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries - the money raised will support our research to make the discoveries that defeat cancer and help save more lives."