by Editor, Dave King THE volume of comments and some of bitter anger that has been vented over the Wootton Bassett bike story has been staggering.

On Thursday, we reported how some residents of Wootton Bassett were concerned with the bike ride coming through their town tomorrow, and we followed that up with a story in yesterday's paper reflecting the thoughts of bikers, local people and the authorities.

It was interesting to hear an item on BBC Radio Swindon yesterday when, picking up on our story, they interviewed townsfolk who were equally divided over the merits of the bike ride. "Please leave our town alone" was the appeal from one lady. She wasn't in the majority, but hers was a voice that had to be heard.

Bikers emailed and telephoned us in huge numbers. Many picked up on the phrase “hairy bikers”. It wasn’t our phrase, it was contained in a quote given by one of those we interviewed in Bassett.

We have had many bitter comments published on our website because the Swindon Advertiser had the temerity to raise the issue of the the value of the bike ride. We didn't question it, the people of Wootton Bassett did. I make no apologies for publishing that article. That is what free speech is all about.

I wonder whether those people who complained really did read the articles carefully and, in particular, whether they read the leader column on March 11, which is the editorial viewpoint of this newspaper and which clearly supports the bike ride.

In case you missed it, and for those who complained, this is what was published on Thursday under the headline of: "Tribute ride will honour Bassett". It's a view I hold to now, as I firmly believe that the bikers' tribute in Wootton Bassett is one which is dignified and fitting, telling our servicemen and women that we support them.

Swindon Advertiser Comment
"It really is hard to imagine 15,000 bikers revving their way through tiny Wootton Bassett on Mothering Sunday. Think about it, that's twice the size of Swindon Town's average home gate this season descending on the tiny market town.

"All this, as a show of support for the military charity Afghan Heroes and which is being viewed as the biggest bike ride the UK has ever seen.

"Police have given permission for the tribute ride and warned motorists to expect long delays on Sunday morning.

"Surprisingly, some of the townsfolk of Wootton Bassett are unhappy about the idea, asking the bikers to leave the town alone.

"Surely, this is a mark of public respect and admiration which the peole of this country hold for the town. Unlike, the proposed march last year by an extreme Muslim group, this is a very public show of solidarity, albeit a very noisy one.

"It is an event which has been carefully planned and one which would not have been sanctioned had Wiltshire Police felt there would have been problems.

"The scale of the tribute is immense, but hopefully it will be one which will be captured by the media and relayed to our trops in Afghanistan demonstrating how much the British public supports them."