THE roar of revving motorcycle engines filled a quiet West Swindon street as more than 100 bikers prepared for a final journey with a much-missed friend.

Dozens of motorcyclists gathered in Walter Close to give Paul Patterson the send-off he deserved, honking their horns constantly as the funeral procession and hearse moved to the front of the convoy.

Neighbours looked on as motorcycles of all shapes and sizes sped off behind the funeral cars towards the North Wiltshire Crematorium.

The mood was solemn with a slight sense of awe at the crowd which had come together to say goodbye. One onlooker told the Adver that Paul was much-loved and well-respected - the size of the turnout for this procession proved how true that was.

Watch the convoy set off:

The riders stayed for the start of the funeral, when Oasis' Rock 'n' Roll Star blared through the speakers, then drove away while close family and friends went inside for the full service.

Some of the riders had never met Paul but had responded to his sister Laura's request to honour her bike-loving brother out of a sense of solidarity and compassion.

One biker told the Adver: "We're a community and it's nice to say goodbye to Paul like this.

"Biker escorts come from all over the country to pay our respects whenever someone asks, doesn't matter where they are, we're like a big family."

For more pictures of the convoy, click here.

Paul died in a collision involving his beloved Piaggio scooter and a Lexus on a stretch of the B4019 between Highworth and the A419 on June 2.

Medics pronounced the 47-year-old father-of-two dead at the scene.

The Honda worker's devastated loved ones and the landlord of The Freke Arms, which looks out onto the junction where the crash happened, have called for changes to be made to improve visibility and safety.

In a statement released after the tragic crash, the family said: “Paul was a kind soul and family was everything. He loved his pets, especially his cat Yoda.

"He was a qualified carpenter and could turn his hand to all sorts.

"Always a perfectionist, he gave everything in life 100 per cent and loved the motto that ‘hard work beats talent’.

“Paul will be remembered by us as a strong, loving, respectful and honest man who would always protect us.”

More than 3,000 people signed a petition pushing for warning signs or traffic calming measures to be added to the turn-off leading to Hannington, which is an accident blackspot. The petition is at http://chng.it/TFkPwk7K