THE warmest day of the year so far in Wellington on Sunday saw residents basking in bright sunshine with temperatures reaching 20 degrees – and a pack of classic and vintage style motorcycles circling the town centre.

The bikers, wearing dapper clothing, were riding to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research.

Nearly 20 motorcycles, some carrying pillion passengers, were involved in the annual charity Distinguished Gentleman's Ride – which, despite the name, also featured women bikers.

They set off from Total Triumph motorcycle dealership, on the A38 near Bradford on Tone, and circled through High Street, Fore Street, South Street, and North Street.

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has been supported by Triumph Motorcycles for the past 10 years.

It describes itself as ‘a niche charity event’ focussing on classically-designed motorcycles, and dapper gentlefolk riding their bikes through the heart of their communities.

Bikers must meet the event’s style guide and must ride one of the following: Café racers, bobbers, classics, trackers, scramblers, old school choppers, modern classics, sidecars, classic scooters, classic cruisers, electrics and Brat-styled motorcycles.

It started in 2012 and is now a global phenomenon with rides taking place in more than 250 cities in nearly 60 countries.

Sunday’s temperatures consistently stayed around 20 degrees for the first time this year ahead of the late spring bank holiday next weekend.

The settled and sunny weather was expected to be even warmer on Monday (May 22) with a top temperature of 21C and becoming even warmer later in the week.

The UK Met Office has forecast sunshine for next weekend’s bank holiday although it could feel slighter cooler.

However, after the bank holiday the Met Office said there would be ‘an increasing chance of more unsettled weather in the south of the UK, with possible heavy showers or periods of rain’.