THE streets of Fordingbridge throbbed under the roar of 560 motorcycles on Saturday as the International Twin Rally of the Moto Guzzi Club came to town.

The rally was an annual event run by the Moto Guzzi Club of Great Britain and open to anyone with a motorcycle with a Vee twin engine.

Led by Fordingbridge Mayor Alan Lewendon on his 1962 350cc AJS motorcycle, the procession took to the streets. And afterwards Cllr Lewendon helped with the judging as the motorcycles lined up alongside the skate park.

For Mayor's choice - the bike the Mayor would most like to own - Cllr Lewendon chose an Aprillia.

Prizes were also awarded for concours d'elegance or best bike, best engineered bike, best side car, furthest travelled and best branch turnout. Various charities stand to benefit from the rally - £300 was donated to the Mayor of Salisbury's appeal, £100 to the Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund and a collection was made for Dorset Air Ambulance.

Organiser Pete Brocklehurst commented: "We hope the town enjoyed our presence, the money brought in and the spectacle of the bikes. We'd like to thank the town council, the scouts and the sports club for their co-operation."

He said the Scouts had worked really hard to provide a splendid barbecue on the Saturday evening as well as cream teas and coffee and croissant breakfasts.

Next year's rally will be held again on August bank holiday Saturday.