Bike enthusiast Sharon Bridger celebrated her 40th birthday in style when seven Harley Davidsons rolled up to give her a personal motorcade.

The unsuspecting birthday girl had an inkling something was going on when her sister-in-law persuaded her against a shopping trip to mark her birthday.

Her suspicions changed to utter disbelief when the motorbikes roared into quiet Colgate Close in Whitehawk, Brighton, yesterday at noon.

Ms Bridger, who suffers from ovarian cancer, was whisked away, complete with leathers, on the back of magician Ray Sparks' powerful machine for an hour cruising the streets of Brighton with the recently formed 1066 Harley Owners Group. (Hogs)

The mother-of-four was delighted with her birthday surprise, organised by sister-in-law Kim Bridger, of Hollington in Hastings.

She said: "I was speechless. I was just shaking like a leaf.

"I have always wanted to go on the back of a Harley Davidson motorbike. It was the most brilliant journey."

She said her four sons aged between seven and 20 had been very impressed at seeing their mother in leather jacket and helmet.

Mr Sparks, an entertainer and magician from Eastbourne, arranged the surprise.

He said: "We didn't just want to give her a ride so we got some of the others down there as well so she could hang out with the lads.

"One of them, Trevor, is a chauffeur for the Hastings mayor who let him off early so he could get up here and he sent his best wishes."

The bikers and their passenger attracted more than a few stares as they made their way down the seafront, stopping for a cup of coffee, before heading back up to Whitehawk.

More than 30 of her family arranged days off work for the birthday treat.

Kim Bridger said: "She has always liked bikes and because it's such a big birthday I really wanted to do something special for her. She is such a lovely lady."

Ms Bridger has one or two reminders of her big day, including a small-scale model of a Harley and a video capturing the birthday treat she said she would never forget.