BIKERS from a Weymouth motorcycle shop got out their mops and buckets to raise money for a good cause.

Alaric Mullins, a business partner at South Coast Motorcycles and Scooters on the Granby Industrial Estate, organised a charity bike wash event for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance last weekend.

The 30-year-old from Chickerell said the team had raised £335 for the charity before the event by organising social bike nights for motorcyclists during the winter.

The team then raised a further £190 on the day by charging £5 per bike.

This brings the team's fundraising total to £525.

Alaric said a few cars turned up to the event as well and hot drinks and cakes also contributed to the amount raised.

He said: “We wanted to raise money for the air ambulance because a high number of motorcyclists are involved in serious road accidents.

Alaric said: “You never know when you might need the air ambulance; they are our means of survival if we have a serious accident.

“The air ambulance is such a good cause and is very important, not just for motorcyclists but for everyone involved in an accident.

“The charity receives no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery, relying entirely on public generosity.”

Alaric said a massive thank you must go to everyone who brought their vehicles along to the event, or helped in their fundraising efforts.

He said himself and the team at South Coast Motorcycles are hoping to make the fundraiser an annual event in an effort to raise even more money for the charity.

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a registered charity, established to provide relief from sickness and injury by the use of an air ambulance.

Since the charity launched in March 2000 they have attended thousands of incidents. The charity is tasked by the ambulance service through the normal 999 emergency process, and can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day during the summer months.

Tracy Bartram, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance communications manager, said: “What a brilliant way of raising funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

“The motorcycle community are big supporters of the air ambulance and we want to thank Alaric and South Coast Motorcycles for coming up with a great way to raise funds.”

To find out more about the charity visit dsairambulance.org.uk.