A fanatical Skipton biker had his dying wish fulfilled when his coffin was transported to his funeral in a specially-made motorcycle sidecar hearse.

The family of Stuart Duncan McIntyre followed his instructions to the letter, with the funeral cortege following part of the route he normally covered on his favourite Skipton-to-Malham motorcycle ride.

Skipton bikers Barry Norton and Dave Wilson led the procession through Skipton town centre to Waltonwrays Crematorium on their motorbikes on Tuesday.

Mr McIntyre’s helmet, scarf and gloves were placed on top of the coffin in the hearse, which was attached to a Triumph “Café Racer”.

Mourners had been encouraged to wear colourful clothing and wellies, for which Mr McIntyre was well-known. His son Keith said his father, who died aged 59 and had lived in Skipton for more than 30 years, would have been very pleased with the arrangements.

“It was a funeral of joy and not of sorrow and that was what he really wanted,” said Keith, whose father’s last bike was a Harley Davison.

“He had loved riding motorbikes ever since he was 16 and liked British bikes in particular. He had been ill for some time, but at least the day before he died he was able to go out on his favourite motorcycle ride. He loved country roads and particularly the route between Skipton and Malham.”

The family flowers were also in the shape of a motorbike.

Never seen without his tweed trilby, Mr McIntyre, who at various times had been a farmer and a builder, made miniature Yorkshire Dales-style stone walls which he sold at local craft fairs.

He was also well-known at Broughton Road allotments where he kept hens.

Mr McIntyre leaves a wife Kath, son Keith and daughter Lorna and three grandchildren, Cameron, Poppy and Luby.