A ROAD safety group has had a helping hand by gaining support from a motorcycling MP.

Leominster MP Bill Wiggin, was among the first to have his riding skills assessed by the Worcester and Hereford Advanced Motorcyclists (WHAM).

The Institute of Advanced Motorists-affiliated group was formed in January 2007 and since its inception has already recruited 50 members.

West Mercia Constabulary is supporting the WHAM group as part of its on-going drive to improve bikers' skills and reduce the number of motorcyclists and pillion passengers injured in collisions on the force's roads.

As part of their safer biking strategy, Herefordshire Council's road safety team have also given their support to WHAM's team of expert riders, who will be visiting local motorcycle gatherings biker to make sure the message of safer motorcycling reaches the biking community.

To promote this message further, Mr Bill Wiggin, member of Parliament for Leominster, took his assessed ride last Friday, May 4, setting out from Herefordshire Council's offices at Plough under the expert eye of Derek McMullan, chairman of WHAM.

They were joined by Herefordshire Council's road safety officer Ann Mann to promote a spring motorcycle safety campaign in the county.

Sergeant John Roberts, BikeSafe co-ordinator for West Mercia Constabulary, said: "Encouraging people to ride safely is an important part of the force's Seven Deadly Sins road safety campaign and we are delighted to be joining the Herefordshire road safety team in supporting WHAM."

He added that rural areas attract large numbers of leisure motorcyclists using powerful bikes, and the majority of collisions occur on fast roads and were caused by riders' lack of skill.

For more safety advice and information, visit the force website www.westmercia. police.uk