Hundreds of leather-clad bikers were joined by rock legend Bryan Adams who got in the fast lane to boost a fundraiser with plenty of throttle.

Around 2,200 riders met for an annual rally at the Ford Dunton technical centre in Laindon and eventually set off on the one-and-a-half hour trek to Harwich, where they were joined by Bryan Adams.

Also an esteemed photographer, the world-famous artist was there to take shots of the event but also made an impromptu greeting to all the participants.

Although the star's welcome was kept top secret, organisers said there were more bikers than ever before and it with estimated that it will have raised even more than last year's £10,000 for the Essex Air Ambulance.

Simone Robinson, the air ambulance's community fundraiser, said: "Since the beginning of June the air ambulance has been involved in 96 road traffic accidents and 35 have involved bikers.

"This day highlighted how vulnerable motorcyclists are on the road and helped them to understand this while showing them how essential the air ambulance is."