When Barry Briggs heard that his mate was coming over to see him for the afternoon he was more than a little surprised.

But true to his word Barry's friend, Franz Savenye, came over to Keighley on his motorbike -- all the way from Holland.

The flying Dutchman caught the early morning ferry from Rotterdam to Hull and then sped across the country to spend an afternoon in Keighley with his fellow bike mad friend, spending a few hours in the town before making the long journey back home at 3pm.

The unique friendship began two years ago when they were both on holiday on the Isle of Man, home to the world-famous TT races.

Barry, 72, from Boothman Walk, Keighley, said: "We got talking one day at the table and he even bought me a newspaper from the newsagents. Every morning after that there was a newspaper waiting for me on the table.

"During the holiday we got on so well that we exchanged phone numbers, and, when we visited some other friends in Holland, Franz paid us a surprise visit.

"He has even popped in to my house on his way to a bike show in Staffordshire," said Barry.

He added: "The hospitality over in Holland was fantastic and I think it's brilliant that he has made such an effort to come all this way for the day, especially when you can lose touch with friends who live only a few miles away.

"I had hoped to take Franz up to Haworth, but in the end we didn't have time and, instead, we had a really good chat and I gave him some motorbike videos to take home."

Barry's fascination with motorbikes, and particularly the TT Races, began in 1947 when he made his first trip over to the Isle of Man.

Barry added that he and Franz were hoping to meet up there again next June.