A lifelong biker was given the perfect send-off when fellow enthusiasts joined his hearse for one last ride.

Dad-of-three Ian Gould passed away after a short fight with cancer on December 7, aged 58.

His daughter Elouise Gould put an appeal on Facebook for bikers to accompany his hearse as it travelled from Minster Roman Catholic Church on Sheppey to Bobbing's Garden of England Crematorium yesterday.

She said: "He was a biker all of his life, and my partner is a biker too. Before he died, he asked us to sort this last ride for him at his funeral."

Elouise's post was met with hundreds of shares, including from people who had never met Ian.

The 34-year-old said: "I was quite shocked actually. My dad always did a lot for the community.

"We used to have a family corner shop, and he did a lot with The Freedom Centre charity in Sheerness.

"He was always the sort of person to help everybody, so it's nice that people want to do that back for him.

"Bikers are just fantastic people. They have a big bad reputation but they're soft as anything."

Before he died, Ian said instead of buying flowers he would rather people donate to The Freedom Centre, a charity for disabled adults in St George's Avenue.

The charity is an educational day centre which offers a range of classes and sessions including Tai chi, IT and crafts.

Piercer Elouise said: "My mum has been going there for nearly 20 years. She had a brain haemorrhage when I was young. They do things like art and English lessons, and they rehabilitated her.

"All of our family fundraise for them, mostly my dad. He recently did a sponsored eat for them.

"For a little charity, it's quite nice to donate this much money. They're fantastic."

The target for the donation was £200, and the family have already raised almost £700.

To donate to the fundraiser, click here.

Fellow biker Bill Cooper, also known as billycustom in the biker community, took part in Ian's last ride.

The 40-year-old Warden Bay resident, who customises and builds motorbikes, said: "I attended Ian's funeral because I know what it's like to lose someone to cancer, as I lost my mum to cancer when she was 46. It was a pleasure and honour to help fulfil Ian's wish.

"This is not uncommon for bikers to get together for the community.

"Some people give bikers a bad reputation but the majority of us are a very tight and positive community that are always willing to help support a good cause."

Elouise added: "He was my best friend, a hugely devoted husband, we didn't expect him to die but he died within five months.

"Even through that he was looking after everyone, making sure we were okay, and this is his last thing.

"He'd drop anything for anybody, even if he didn't know them. If he knew they needed help, he'd do it.

"He was the best."