VINTAGE buses and leatherclad bikers trailed behind a hearse to pay tribute to Robert Sharpe.

The spectacular funeral procession started out on Walton seafront before heading to Weeley Crematorium.

Robert, known to friends as Bob, was found dead in his Colchester flat in April, aged 69. The keen biker and classic bus enthusiast was a regular customer at the Revved Up the seafront cafe in Walton.

His funeral was held on Friday and the cafe was chosen as the starting spot for the procession.

Some of Bob’s family members travelled behind the hearse in vintage buses, while dozens of friends on bikes trailed after them.

Revved Up owner Paul Barnes said: “Bob was one of our regular customers and he died a little while ago. He loved bikes and buses and would happily chat away to anyone about them. He was a lovely old boy.

"We wanted to get people involved and ride out to the funeral in a way he would have loved.”