Wallingford's motorbiking mayor-elect, Alec Hayton, has promised a spectacular start to this year's Wallingford Carnival.

The mayor normally leads the procession sedately ensconced in a horse-drawn carriage or a vintage car.

But Mr Hayton, 66, a hedge-layer who lives in St John's Green, is assistant director of the Oxford Harley Davidson Club.

He said: "That means I will be having a very unusual and very noisy escort at this year's carnival - it will certainly be something different to make people sit up and take notice."

Mr Hayton owns and rides a Harley-Davidson himself but his beloved bike is having vital work done on it at a garage. He said: "It will soon be back - well in time for the carnival on June 21."

Mr Hayton joined the council in 1995 and previously served as mayor in 1999-2000.

He said: "I was working full time then.

"M my deputy mayor at the time, Betty Atkins, took over much of the daytime engagements and I did the evenings.

"Now I'm semi-retired and I want to do full justice to the office of mayor."