A RECORD crowd turned out in force to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the twelfth Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show.

An estimated 60,000 people - including bike fans from the Continent - descended on Rawtenstall yesterday to watch more than 1,000 bikers ride into town to kick start Europe's biggest town centre bike show.

Attractions included a classic bike display, traders' markets, food stalls, and several demonstrations.

Most popular attraction was the Xtreme Trials Display, where riders pushed biking to the limit, performing jumps up walls, drop-offs, wheelies and a wide-range of freestyle tricks and stunts.

And in the Mini-Moto arena crowds gathered to see grown men manage to clamber on to miniature bikes and race round a track - to varying degrees of success.

The show, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors, raises plenty of money for charities.

President of RVMS, Fred Tolley, said he hoped the trouble-free day would beat last year's crowd total.

He said: "We have put it down as one of the smoothest shows we have had.

"The Xtreme Trials and the Mini-Moto have been really popular and their stunts were performed to packed crowds."

And the show proved popular with visitors too.

Ian McNee, 35, from Droylsden, said he comes to the show every year as there is nothing like it in Manchester.

He added: "It's ace and it's real, they close most of the area and let people walk around.

"I think this year the best thing has been the mini motorcycling. It was an entertaining attraction to watch."