BIKERS staged a 45-strong convoy in an emotional farewell to a fellow motorcycling enthusiast.

Henry Cocker, of Holden Lane, Leigh, was escorted on his final journey to Howe Bridge Crematorium by his biker friends after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

The funeral for the 64-year-old granddad-of-two was held on Thursday.

His daughter Claire, 39, said: "It was overwhelming.

“When I was outside the chapel waiting to go to the crematorium there were two or three bikes, and then a constant flow of them started to pass by.

“I went back into the chapel and said to my dad ‘I wish you could be here to see this because you would be so proud of yourself'."

Henry was an ambulance engineer in Leigh, Wigan and Bolton for 25 years after training at Leigh Technical College.

He opened his own garage at the turn of the century, HCC Motors on Kirkhall Lane, Leigh, and made lots of biker friends through work and they travelled together across the UK and Europe.

The bikers were joined at the funeral procession by four hired motorbike marshals.

Claire said: “It was nice to see such a good turnout for my dad and it made me very proud of him and showed how well respected he was.

“Lots of people came up to me on the day and said ‘you do not know me but I really loved your dad and he was a great bloke – the salt of the earth'.

“I would like to thank everyone who came to pay their respect as it was really humbling and made the day that little bit easier.”

Henry died at Wigan and Leigh Hospice on April 28.

He was an avid Leigh Centurions fan, travelling home and away to watch the rugby league team play.