Bulldog Bash biker rally starts

Gerry Tobin was shot dead as he rode on the M40

A massive police operation has got under way as thousands of bikers arrived at the four-day Bulldog Bash festival in Warwickshire.

Police said the £1.4m operation was needed to carry out searches and close roads around the Long Marston event following a shooting last year.

Gerry Tobin, from London, was killed on the M40 after leaving the 2007 event.

Festival organisers said the operation was "over-the-top" and that they had not been consulted by police.

Seven men deny the murder of Mr Tobin, 35, of Mottingham, south-east London, and are due to stand trial on 2 October.

'Waste of money'

Up to 20,000 people were expected to attend the festival, near Stratford-upon-Avon, between Thursday and Sunday.

The major police operation covered all routes into the site, including motorways and country roads.

There is a large police presence at this year's festival

Commuters and local residents have been warned by police to expect some disruption while the festival is on.

Officers have said they will be searching people on their way in and will be using number plate recognition technology to monitor vehicles going there.

Police had previously urged councillors not to give this year's event a licence over fears for public safety.

But Stratford-on-Avon District Council said it had no grounds to stop the festival from going ahead.

Road closures

Organisers of the Bulldog Bash said the police operation was a "waste of public money", compared to the £100,000 that was spent last year.

Main organiser John Britt, known as Bilbo, said attendance figures for this year's event were up on last year.

He added: "I think all the pre-publicity the police have given us has probably worked in our favour."

But Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said the measures were intended to deter people who "may be intending to disrupt the event or to attack people going to and from it".

Five roads were originally scheduled for closure between 0700 BST and 2000 BST from Thursday to Sunday.

Police now plan to shut four following discussions with residents.

They include part of Preston Fields Lane in Clifford Chambers, Station Road in Long Marston, Back Lane in Lower Quinton and Tailors Lane in Upper Quinton.

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Hells Angel Gerry Tobin was killed on the M40 motorway