BIKERS can brush up their skills with the chance to access the best in motorcycle safety training this weekend at the fourth annual Prescott Festival of Bikes.

The popular event aims to attract more than 7,000 motorcycle riders and visitors to Prescott Hill in Gotherington, near Cheltenham, on Sunday 6th April.

Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership will be attending on the day to showcase their raft of rider training packages. These include Max Rider - a new road riding development package, Biker Down - a free 3 hour training session from Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue and BikeSafe, the Police led motorcycling workshop programme.

Of those people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads between 2011 and 2013, 21 per cent were riding motorbikes. With 78 per cent of all incidents with a motorbike also involving another vehicle, the biggest factor was riders or drivers “failing to look properly” according to the data.

Motorcycling co-ordinator Chris Harrison said: “There is nothing better than the freedom of getting out on the bike, especially now the evenings are lighter and the summer is on the way. We want to make sure every rider gets the most out of their bike, on every journey and this means having access to the best available training.

"That’s why we are joining forces with our colleagues in Gloucestershire Police and Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue to deliver training packages to suit every rider of every capability. We want every journey to be as safe and enjoyable as possible.”

Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership staff will be at the festival with a stand promoting BikeSafe, Biker Down and Max Riders as well as highlighting the problem of blind spots for both riders and drivers.

Attending on the day will be a team of representatives from across the Partnership including Fire & Rescue, Police and the RSP as well as Police & Crime Commissioner Martin Surl.

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said: “Thousands of people attend the festival annually and we know from previous years that it gives us a great opportunity to remind motorcyclists and other road users of the best way to remain safe on the road.”

For the latest road safety advice, visit www.roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk.