About 400 Harley-Davidson bikes roared round Baildon and the surrounding area during a ride out as part of the town’s Harley-Davidson Festival today.

Cllr John Turner, of Baildon Town Council, owns a Harley and took part in the ride. He said: “It was a fantastic atmosphere. There were more people in the village this year than I’ve ever seen before - it was almost like the whole of Baildon turned out.

“As we went on the ride out, it was packed in Otley and Guiseley and people were cheering - it was really uplifting and joyful, a tremendous feeling.”

Riders came from as far away as Germany and the Netherlands to take part in the festival and ride out. Cllr Turner said the ride out procession was about eight minutes long from first biker to the last.

“It has quite a reputation now,” said Cllr Turner, who added that the festival has been going for about 35 years. “It has grown year on year.

“It is probably Baildon’s biggest event of the year.”

The ride out was followed by a family fun day at Baildon rugby club featuring terrier racing, tug of war, bike show, archery and stalls.

A biker from Staffordshire won the bike show’s Best in Show award with his Harley-Davidson Softail 2004.

Cllr Turner added: “It has been a great success, has the whole festival.”