A RETIRED safety expert swapped a hard hat for a helmet to take part in a charity motorcycle run over the weekend.

Roger Bibbings led a group of vintage bikers from the most easterly part of Great Britain in Lowestoft to the most westerly part in St Davids on the longest day of the year.

The participants were all on vintage motorcycles, with most of the machines being more than 25 years old and under 200cc.

Sixty five year-old Roger will be riding his trusty 1979 TS150 MZ to raise money for RoSPA’s Driveway Safety campaign.

“At least 27 children have been killed on, or near, the driveways of their homes since 2001,” said Roger, who was RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser before he retired in February.

“Tragically, in most of these cases, an adult member of the child's family, a neighbour or a visitor to the house was driving the vehicle.

“I’ve chosen a slow motorcycle challenge because there’s a real pleasure travelling slowly on two wheels using minor roads. You see, smell and remember so much more and you cover the same ground as those burning up the highways on much bigger machines.”

The group was met in St Justinians at sunset on Sunday by the Mayor of St Davids, Councillor David Halse, who presented a cheque of £50 on behalf of the city council.

Cllr Halse said: “We want to say thank you for all the work that you’re doing for ROSPA.

“We had no idea that so many children died on driveways, so the work that you’re doing to raise awareness is amazing.”

People wanting to donate to the cause should visit www.justgiving.com/e2wslowly