IT used to be the first cuckoo which heralded spring. Now it is the rasp of a Honda or a Suzuki.

As soon as the sun comes out, so do the motorbikes. Yet the very popularity of two-wheeled transport in North Yorkshire can cause headaches.

When 3,000 motorcyclists descended on a caf bar in Sherburn-in-Elmet on Wednesday, chaos ensued. But bikers are, in general, a conciliatory bunch, and we are sure they will be happy to co-operate with measures taken to prevent a repeat of the problem.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, April 12, 2002