FRIENDS of a Greenlands man must have thought he was "biking" mad to spend £4,000 on revamping a battered old motorcycle.

But for furniture specialist Phil Dutton, 56, of Oakenshaw Road, it was worth every penny after a 35-year search that saw him eventually reunited with his beloved 1966 BSA motorbike.

The bike was brand new when Mr Dutton's father bought it and it became the then 17 year old's pride and joy.

But, to his dismay, he had to sell it after just two years when the family ran into financial difficulties.

The bike was out of sight but certainly not out of mind and Mr Dutton and his son, Paul, began an extensive search for it.

An Evesham man who had owned the bike eventually contacted his son but he had sold it two months previously to a woman from Bristol.

But she was touched by Mr Dutton's quest and after hearing the story agreed to return the beloved bike to its original owner.

After forking out for the repairs, repainting and chroming, a jubilant Mr Dutton is revving up to take his restored bike to the streets once more.

He said: "It's a shame my dad isn't here to see me now. Now I've got the bike back, it's staying put and I'm not letting it out of my sight again."