Watch: Thousands flock to dirt bike show in Telford

The Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show - regarded in the industry as the UK's top classic off-road motorcycle show - took place at the International Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

Despite wildly varying weather conditions from blue skies and sunshine to freezing cold snow showers, organisers said they were delighted with the turnout over the two days.

Exhibition manager Nick Mowbray, of Classic Bike Shows, said the annual show had been running in the town for the past four or five years, but it was the first time his team had overseen it, following a change in ownership.

He said: "We run around 10 other similar events all over the UK but this is the first year we have been in charge of this one, having taken it on.

"We have been absolutely delighted with the turn out.

"We were really pleased with what we managed to put out there and we hope every show-goer went away feeling like they got value for money. The feedback we got from the people we spoke to was certainly positive.

"We haven't confirmed the final figures yet but it looks like we are well on to be over the 10,000 people mark over the two days, so that is fantastic. It gives us a real base to build the show on for future years and we hope to keep coming back to Telford."

One of the star names at the weekend event was the flamboyant Graham Noyce, 1979 world motocross champion.

"Rolls" Noyce dominated the sport domestically in the late 1970s and early 1980s, also winning scores of national crowns.

Graham spoke on stage and met fans during both days of the event and was also reunited with his title-winning factory 500cc Honda for the first time in more than 20 years.

He said: "It's always nice to come to these sorts of events and meet the fans, and it was also great to see the bike again after so long. It brings back so many happy memories.

"It was a great weekend and it was brilliant to see so many genuine fans of motorsport and motorbikes come out to support it."

The two-day event also marked a couple of milestones in the sport, coming 40 years after both Martin Lampkin won the 1975 World Trials Championship and Mick Grant claimed the second of his seven Isle of Man TT race wins.

The Bultaco bike on which Lampkin rode was at the show, while Grant was in attendance and, like Noyce, gave talks on the stage and met fans.

Tim Britton, editor of the event's title sponsor Classic Dirt Bike magazine, said: "We've been able to pull together some of the most interesting bikes you'll see at any UK show.

"Having Martin Lampkin's bike was a real coup and alongside the National Motorcycle Museum's Nortons were some stunning examples from the Sammy Miller Museum and a handful of machines to have graced the famous International Six Days Trial event."

Along with the classic motorbikes on view, there were scores of stalls selling all manner of bike parts and accessories from tyres to vintage retro helmets.

Alan Thomson, from Market Drayton, said he had been to the show for the past couple of years.

He said: "I've always been a fan of motorbikes and I particularly love the speedway.

"It's great that we can attract these kind of events to Shropshire and as you can see, people come from literally all over the country to be here so it must be great for the local economy as well because I'm sure people stay over and come for both days.

"I enjoy looking round at the old bikes and listening to the stories from the old heroes up on stage. It's a great show and I hope we can keep it here for many more years to come yet."

Dean Fragley was manning a stand for Bristol-based Ultimate Trophies.

He said: "We provide the trophies for loads of motorsport and motocross events so it's a real must-attend event on the calendar for us as a business.

"There seems more people here compared to previous years, the event has a really busy and bustling feel to it which is great considering the weather has been so unpredictable this weekend."