THE Coast to Coast motorcycle run celebrated its Silver Jubilee by taking the same route through Lyme Regis that it would have done 25 years ago.

Hundreds of vintage motorcycles descended on the town early on Sunday morning to begin the annual charity ride to Weston-Super-Mare.

Instead of taking the usual route up Broad Street, they went via Bridge Street and out of town on Charmouth Road, before heading to Crewkerne.

Organiser and secretary of the Westland Classic Motorcycle Club Dick Dampier said: “This year was actually our 26th year but the 25th run because the 2001 event was cancelled due to foot and mouth. We tried to keep it as close as we could to replicate the first run, so we went through the traffic lights and up the hill. The run went very well. We had no incidents but a couple did break down; but that goes with the course.”

The bikes lined up on the seafront where people could have a look and chat to the riders, before they were sent on their way with the waving of a Union Flag by deputy mayor Daryl Turner and town crier Phil Street. Mr Dampier said: “We have quite a selection of people who come down to see us. We have people who phone us between now and Christmas asking us what date next year’s event is going to be so that they can book their holiday to be there.”

This year saw 213 entrants and 90 marshals – the youngest aged 21 and the oldest 87.

Mr Dampier said: “The atmosphere was a bit subdued to start with due to the foggy weather but everybody was pleased that the weather forecast was good for the rest of the day.”

The event raises money for brain injury charity Headway Somerset but it is not yet known how much this year’s run made.