Dozens of bikers took part in a Sunday ride from Dorchester to West Bay and back again, raising money for a children's charity.

Bikers from around Dorset, and further afield, grouped at the Top o' Town car park ahead of the ride, which was held to raise funds for the Dorchester Opportunity Group, a pre-school for children with special needs.

"It's quite spectacular when they all line up at West Bay," said the event's organiser, Andy Rae. "We do this every year and it's always a great event."

Ashley Tandy, the Dorchester representative of the National Association for Bikers with Disabilities, revealed that he would be the group's 'Tail-End Charlie', i.e. the rider - in a specially modified vehicle - who travels at the back of the pack to ensure safety and stop other vehicles from cutting in.

"It's an important role," Mr Tandy said.

The group, numbering some 100 bikers, followed a circular route that took them from Dorchester, through Crewkerne, Mosterton and Beaminster, to West Bay, where they stopped to refuel at the Snack Shack on the beach. The group then returned to the starting point along the coast road via Portesham, Martinstown and Poundbury.

"This way's better, because it's a loop," Mr Rae said. "Otherwise we would all just disperse once we reached our destination."

Last year, the event raised some £1,000 for the Dorchester Opportunity Group, whose chairman, Penny Gray, praised the bikers' generosity.

"It's really good of people to give their time and money in this way," Ms Gray said. "Though of course for the bikers, it's a social thing too."

She noted that many of the participants felt a personal connection to the charity. "Lots of them have experience of children with special needs," she said. "It makes them want to support us."

Friends Les Lawson and Stanley Unwin had driven down from Shepton Mallet in Somerset for the event. "We do rides like this at least once a month," Mr Unwin said. "Sometimes more."

"It's a good chance to socialise," Mr Lawson added.

The pair had already made a new friend - Ian Baker from Milton Abbas. "It's such a great day for a ride," Mr Baker said. "And it's brill to see so many people out here today."

The group got off after some words of encouragement from Mr Rae - and a rousing cry from Dorchester town crier Alistair Chisholm. "It's a wonderful event," Mr Chisholm said. "It's fantastic to see everyone getting on their bikes!"