PLANS are in the final stages for the fifth Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show with promises that this year's event will be bigger and better than ever.

Organisers are expecting a record 30,000 visitors to Rawtenstall for the event on September 28.

This year, for the first time, some of the attractions will start on the Saturday as a taster for the main day.

A wall of death stunt show and a takeaway food village will operate on the market car park from Saturday and riders will stage a cavalcade through the town. Most of the town centre will be closed to traffic on the Sunday to allow more space for attractions and visitors.

Changes from previous years include a new 600-metre Minimoto circuit, four times longer than in previous years, in Whitaker Park, and a new site for the show arena which will be on Phipps car park at the top of Bank Street.

The arena will feature live music throughout the day and competition entries in 15 classes.

Organisers hope local shopkeepers will again enter a competition for the best-dressed window.

The Valley Centre will be filled with club displays from all over Britain and the Triumph Display Unit will take over part of Bank Street. Visitors will have the chance of winning a Triumph bike for £1 by rolling seven sixes in a dice competition.

A tattooing and body-piercing show will take place in Rawtenstall Astoria and the day starts with the usual celebrity ride-ins from different parts of East Lancashire.

Last year, more than 300 riders led by the Rossendale mayor and mayoress took part in the opening.

The event is organised and staffed by volunteers and all proceeds go to local charities and to campaign for riders' rights.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.