AROUND 1,000 motorbikes roared onto Poole Quay for the first bike night of the year.

Bike fans and spectators alike were treated to a host of machines from across the decades as Poole welcomed the event back for a new season.

The BLD Dream Machines event will now run until the end of September and is set to attract thousands of spectators each week.

The quay is closed off to normal traffic, allowing people to enjoy the bikes to the full.

Each week a ‘bike of the night’ is chosen and, at the first event on Tuesday, Richard Tizzard from Broadstone was the winner. He was riding a black Norton 77 850 Commando and the judge for the evening, Stuart Dobson from sponsors BLD, chose it because it was “an original, clean, classic bike”.

Richard added: “It is one of three Nortons I own and was bought a year ago in mint condition. It’s also a good ride.”

Richard rode home with a race kit courtesy of Muc-Off, plus a Bike of the Night mug.

He will also be invited to take part in the ‘bike of the year’ finale at the last meeting of the season on September 30.

At the next event on Tuesday, Beaulieu Motor Museum in the New Forest will be asking bikers to vote for their top motorcycle icons.

The vote is ahead of a new exhibit being launched in May.

Season armbands for Dream Machines can be bought for £7.50 from the Welcome Centre at Poole Quay.