RIDERS donned Edwardian outfits and jumped on antique bicycles at the Elgar Vintage Ride in Malvern today (Sunday, September 14).

Around 100 cyclists met at the Abbey Gates in Malvern to ride the seven mile route, organised for the third year by Malvern Cycles in the Link in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Many of those taking part were dressed in Edwardian style clothing to represent Edward Elgar, also a keen cyclist from Malvern.

While others wore Victorian clothing or vintage outfits of their choosing.

And lots of the riders completed the route on bikes also dating back a few years.

A Penny Farthing could be seen amongst the group, alongside vintage Raleighs and a few Moulton bikes.

Cycling enthusiast Mel Platt, of Worcester Road, Malvern, who also owns jewellery shop Retrobicycles, was riding a 1963 Moulton.

"I found the bike last year and it has the original F frames," she said. "It's a classic sixties bike, people think it looks like a children's bike but it is in fact really fast."

But not everyone was opting for the antique bike.

Derek Fountain, of Hanley Road, Malvern Wells, was on his electric powered bike, which allows him to take part in such events as he has a problem with his right leg.

He said: "This is the first time I have taken part in this event. I wanted to test my new electric bike out and I thought this would be a fun day."

Kevin Williams, of Lower Road, West Malvern, and Mark Tooby, of Brookfarm Drive, Malvern, were both riding bikes once belonging to their fathers in the 1950s and Victorian dressed Emily Seale, of Summers Road, Malvern, was riding a Raleigh.

Families also turned out for the occasion, Elise, aged nine, and Kathryn Faragher, aged 15, were with their mum Karen Duncan, all of Summers Road, and Tim Duncan, for the event.

Not to be outdone Malvern mayor councillor Julian Roskams also turned up wearing a top hat and tails.

He said: "Following on from the Tour of Britain it shows how much Malvern loves cycling. This is a fabulous event and a great way of raising money.

"Elgar was a great cyclist himself, cycling from Malvern to Wolverhampton to watch football matches."

Organiser Tanya Trotman said she was pleased with the turnout.

"There's a tweed run in London and we wanted to do something similar," she said of how the idea came about. "Part of Malvern's heritage is Elgar and it seems the vintage style.

"We decided to raise money for MND as a friend's son has been diagnosed with it."