A DOUBLE-amputee was among those wowed by the motorbikes on display at a care home open day.

Stratton care home Church View threw open its doors to the community on Saturday for its annual garden party.

Children and care-home residents alike were able to site astride motorbikes dating back to the Second World War.

Particularly special was the emergency-spec bike brought by volunteers from Severn Freewheelers. The charity provides out-of-hours cover for emergency bikers, ferrying blood, hospital documents and other life-saving items across a patch that stretches between Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester.

Tracy Ferrier, general manager of Coate Water Care-owned Church View care home, said: “Every year we do a garden party and fete. This year we wanted to do something a different and show people what we do at the home.”

Eric Watkins, 73, has been at the home since May. A couple of months before, the London-born former Pressed Steel worker lost his second leg on the operating table.

“If anyone came here even for just a few weeks, they’d love it,” said keen crooner Eric. “It’s just got everything I would want: good food and I’m as free as a bird.”

Motorbike-mad Vince Povey was responsible for bringing the six vintage bikes to the garden party.

Vince, 44, who has worked at the home as a maintenance operative for over four years, said: “The residents love it. I think it brings back a lot of memories.

“We’ve had ex-engineers here and people who used to own bikes themselves. Up until last year there was one lady who had painted the Spitfires at Vickers in the war.”

Grilling burgers and hot dogs on a home-made barbecue converted from an old motorbike, Vince said he enjoyed working at the home. “It gives you something to get out of bed for. The guys in here are our history and we’ve got to look after them.”

Any money raised from a raffle and cake sale on the day would be added to the home’s Residents’ Amenity Fund, which supports care home residents.