The devoted son of Bradford speedway legend Eric Langton has travelled half way across the world to lay his father's remains to rest in the family plot.

Simon Langton promised his dad before his death in November last year that he would make the trip from his home in Perth, in Western Australia, to Farnley Cemetery near Pudsey.

And after he read out his dad's favourite poem, If by Rudyard Kipling, he carried out Eric's dying wish and sprinkled his ashes over the family grave.

Now Mr Langton plans to have the name of Eric's brother Oliver added to the gravestone alongside their parents Frank and Ann and Simon's great great-grandparents Tom and Emilia.

Mr Langton said: "It was a very emotional day and the culmination of a lot of thought and planning. Eric often referred to his family grave and where his parents were buried.

"Even though he had lived in Perth for 43 years he still wanted to be buried in England. He was a Yorkshire lad and wanted to be laid to rest in Yorkshire.

"My son Jonathan and daughter Joanne live in England and were at the graveside so it was a special moment for them too to witness a piece of the family's history."

Eric Langton was born in Leeds but lived in Fernhill Road, Shipley, for the first half of his life and gained a reputation as an internationally-respected rider during the sport's heyday in the 1930s.

He and his brother Oliver, who was also an accomplished speedway rider, were members of the Bradford and District Motorcycling Club and raced for the world famous Belle Vue Aces speedway team in Manchester between 1928-39.

In 1936 Eric tied with Australian Lionel Van Praag in the first World Championships at Wembley, but lost the title in controversial circumstances after a race off. After World War Two he rejoined the Aces but hung up his leathers in 1947 and went on to manage Odsal Speedway before moving with wife Mary and their two sons Simon and Max to Applescross in Perth in 1957.

Mr Langton said: "For some reason Oliver's ashes were sprinkled in Rawdon Cemetery but we hope to have his name added to the family grave.

"My mother said she wants to come back to England now as she still has a lot of friends and family living in the area and she would be in the same country as Eric."