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Thousands ride to 'world's biggest' scooter rally

BBC Two customised Lambretta scooters. One is metallic deep red with the word Ruby in metallic lettering on the faring. The other is metallic green with a dark green and gold detailing around the edgeBBC
Many of the scooters are customised

Thousands of scooterists are on the Isle of Wight for what is billed as the world's biggest scooter rally.

About 10,000 scooters, along with riders and passengers, descended on Sandown Airport for the four-day meet on Thursday.

The event, which continues on Monday, included a mass ride-out on Sunday.

Many of the machines - mostly Vespas and Lambrettas - are customised with unique paintwork and accessories.

Three Vespa scooters, each with riders and pillion passengers, on a grass verge. In the background are dozens more scooters parked
About 10,000 scooters were expected over the weekend

The event is organised by VFM Collective which has been organising rallies since 1984 in the UK and abroad.

It includes an International Custom Show, bands, DJs and a trading area.

Scooterist Mark Davis of Dorset Knights Scooter Club said: "It's a massive community, there are clubs all over the country.

"We all meet up at the rallies, meet friends along the way.

"It's the biggest rally in the world - 10,000 scooters on the island is a hell of a lot of scooters."

A gathering of scores of scooters and riders
Scooterists took part in a ride-out on Sunday

Mr Davis said he loved "the enjoyment of riding, the enthusiasm and the camaraderie".

"I've been 40-odd years on scooters," he said.

"The badges are just trophies - you go to the rally and you get the patch to say you've been.

"I put them on my jackets. I'm on my fifth jacket now, I think."

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