A cavalcade of bikers honoured one of their friends today when they accompanied his funeral cortege to Oxford Crematorium.

Around 30 members of the Oxford chapter of the Harley Davidson Club gathered outside the Roman Catholic church of Our Lady and St Hugh, in Witney, where the funeral of 33-year-old Matthew Melly was held.

The service, conducted by the Rev Pat Armstrong, was attended by his parents Derek and Vicky and sister Paula, with other relatives and friends.

Mr Melly died on March 29 when his car crashed into a tree on the B4477 Brize Norton Road, near Minster Lovell.

He lived at the Old Coach Yard, Witney, and was a long-time motorbike enthusiast and founder member of the Oxford Harley club.

Fellow member Eddie Fowler, from Headington, said: "I had some very good photographs of Matthew when he was on trips with us. His dad said he'd like to have memories of happier times, so I have passed them on to him.

"Matthew was always helpful, a bit of a Good Samaritan at times.

"I can remember when about 15 of us went over to Amsterdam two years ago and there was a poor biker stranded because his Suzuki had broken down out in the countryside. Matthew insisted on stopping and helping the guy to a garage to get it fixed."