Bikers' own 'highway to heaven'

Julie Gibbings, 44, from Withleigh, near Tiverton, has a £10,000 custom built two-wheeled hearse for funerals - towed by motortrike.

It is the latest service from the mother-of-three's Trike An Occasion business, which includes weddings, proms and champagne picnics.

Ms Gibbings' uniform includes black leathers, black helmet and sunglasses.

She said local funeral directors appeared to be in favour with the service.

"Better for bikers than more traditional-style funerals"
Helen Lane, biker's wife

"The bike and hearse will be 24ft long when hooked together, and I will take a funeral director with me as a passenger," she said.

"I have spoken to a number of funeral directors about the service and they really like it.

"People want something different, and although it will appeal to bikers, I hope other people will like it as well."

The businesswoman said she bought the motortrike on a whim three years ago, despite having never ridden a bike before.

But she has now developed a lucrative business offering her rather unusual mode of transport.

Helen Lane from Plymouth, whose husband Derek rides a Harley-Davidson, said the funeral service was a "fantastic" idea.

"I think it's really brilliant," she told BBC News.

"It's quite unusual and probably better for bikers than more traditional-style funerals."

Mrs Lane said it was a sad fact of life that her husband attends "too many" funerals of biker friends and acquaintances.

However, Mr Lane does not agree. He said he was against the "novelty angle" of the Trike An Occasion service and hoped his wife would not consider it for him.

The service was officially launched at the start of three-day bike festival in Paignton.

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Trike An Occasion
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