FAMILY and friends of a biker who died in a crash on the A31 staged a mass rideout in his memory.

Around 100 people set off from Avon Heath Country Park on a 50-mile trip in honour of David Bartholomew, blasting their horns as they passed the spot of the fatal collision.

David’s children James, 27, and Charlotte, 25, led the pack on their dad’s VTR 1000 Firestorm bike.

James, from Bournemouth, said: “The idea started pretty much from the day of Dad’s accident.

“We wanted to give something back to the people who helped Dad in his last moments.”

Funds from the ride to the Clay Pipe Pub, at Holton Heath, will go to Dorset Police Welfare Fund, Poole Critical Care Unit and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

David, 54, a works manager at a metal fabrication company, belonged to Dorset Motorcycle Club.

Charlotte said: “I’m completely touched by how many people have turned out. It’s been overwhelming finding out how many people knew and loved him.”

He lived at Bere Regis with partner of 15 years Lindsey Witcombe.

Lindsey, 54, said: “This has been emotional.

“David would just have loved it. Everyone adored him, he was just such a character.

“He could be a complete idiot with such a sense of humour. He was light and cheerful, a happy and bright person.”

She secretly took her motorcycle test four years ago while David was away as a surprise.

David’s best friend Bob Thorpe, 52, remembers biking trips to France, Italy and Switzerland.

Mr Thorpe, from Poole, said: “It’s still hard to believe he’s not here. I keep expecting to see him turn up on his bike and every time I see a Yamaha Diversion I think it’ll be him riding.”

David’s mum Peggy Bartholomew and older sister Pat Bransome, from Dorchester, waved the riders off.

A raffle and a burger van were waiting for the riders at the pub.