ALMOST 8,000 bikers will ride through Wootton Bassett High Street on Mothers’ Day as a mark of respect for the repatriation town.

A Facebook event was set up last year by teenager Elizabeth Stevens who originally wanted to complete the ride with a few friends, but as soon as the event was posted on the web thousands of bikers pledged their support.

The number of bikers who have said they will turn out for the event, which is raising money for the Afghan Heroes charity, has now topped 7,800.

The charity was set up last September by a group of mothers who lost their sons in Afghanistan.

One such mum, Denise Harris, pictured, whose son Corporal Lee Scott, 26, lost his life in an explosion last July, said: “To have so many people thinking of us on Mothers’ Day is just astonishing and overwhelming and it will be very emotional to see so many bikers showing their support to the people of Wootton Bassett and for our boys and girls.

“I believe everyone at the RAF base is also pleased that so many people want to pay their respects to the fallen and to Wootton Bassett for everything they have done – and we will be proud to accept the funds raised at the air base.”

The group of bikers will ride through the town on Sunday, March 14, and then gather at RAF Lyneham. Once there they will hand over funds raised for the charity, which helps service personnel, families of the fallen and returning troops.

Elizabeth, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College in Dunstable, said: “Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run, so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it’s just taken off.

“We were only expecting a couple of hundred bikers but our estimate of 2,000 has already shot up.

“I’ve had a few sleepless nights with people messaging me and nudging me on Facebook.

“And I’ve had a couple of weird requests including someone wanting to join the run in a horse and carriage.”

The mass convoy of bikers are due to hit the motorway at noon on March 14 before slowly heading along the A-roads towards Wootton Bassett and RAF Lyneham.

Each rider will pay £5 and receive an Afghan Heroes wristband, which will be their entry pass to the RAF base.

Bikers who want to enter the RAF base are asked to register at www.afghanheroes.org.uk by February 15 for security reasons. The website will also provide details of where the riders will meet to start the event.