HISTORY was made in Barrow as around 20,000 bikers made their way into the town centre on Dave Day. 

When 66-year-old Dave Myers lost his battle with cancer in February, fans, family and friends thought of ways they could pay tribute to him.

What was to come was an outpouring of love for the Hairy Biker that was off the scale. 

READ MORE: Dave Day: Meet the couple who moved to Cumbria because of Dave

Saturday (June 8) saw people as far as Malaysia travel to the South Cumbrian town to celebrate Dave's life.

Dave's best friend Si King led an emotional ride out from 7am from the Ace Cafe in London to take them on the 300-mile journey to Dave's hometown. 

Meanwhile town centre businesses prepared early for the momentous day.

(Image: Newsquest) Just before 9am, Joanne Grainger, owner of Coco Hair and Beauty, was spotted fixing her Dave Day bunting to the front of her shop on Dalton Road amid some strong gusts of wind.

She said: "The bunting was provided by Barrow BID to put up on the front of the shop and we've laminated it just to protect it from the rain.

"We got in early this morning to put it up. We're really excited for Dave Day and we're hoping plenty of businesses will join in."

The D Day 80th Anniversary procession, the stage at the front of the town hall was modified for the upcoming act set to perform. 

Acts such as Paris Corkhill, Sam Charnley and Bods provided the soundtrack to the thousands of people trickling in to try and catch a glimpse of the riders that were on the way.

The excitement began to build as reports came in that the contingent had just left Burton-in-Kendal services just after 3pm.

Thousands of people, many dressed in Hawaiian shirts, piled onto roundabouts and pavements lining Abbey Road and the streets around the town hall.

Children with fake moustaches could be seen excitedly waving Dave Day flags as the first bikes began to arrive just before 4pm.

(Image: Newsquest)The first arrivals were met with cheers as they revved their engines for a show around AbbCrowds piled on Abbey Road roundabout ey Road roundabout.

In anticipation, crowds spilled out onto the road with stewards doing their best to get people back to safety

Then, they were heard before they were seen. In came the solid contingent of bikers to an uproar of applause.

After settling into car parking spaces around the town hall, two bikers told The Mail they had felt like 'royalty' on the way into the town. 

The bikers got acquainted with each other as The Forum ran out of cider and it was almost time for Si King and Dave's widow Liliana Orzac to take to the stage. 

(Image: Newsquest)Boom Dang Foundation drummed up the excitement as Dave's friend Woody was spotted making his way to the stage.He then came out with Si and Lilliana who thanked Barrow for its welcome as he said there wasn't a 'dry eye' when they arrived. 

Liliana then thanked the people who had come as far as Malaysia and said she felt many people could related to Dave's situation. 

She'd said brought Dave's 'helmet, goggles, jacket and his love to Barrow'.

(Image: Chris Warner) Footage was played of some of the highlights of Dave's life including his hilarious moments on Strictly Come Dancing. 

It was an emotional and touching moment for the crowd with many who went to join the Dave Day concert at Northern Competitions stadium.

Kicking off at 4pm headline act Massive Wagons was supported by rock acts Blue Nation, Maiden Cumbria, The Silver Bars, Jordan Gaffney, God Damn Smile, The Dales, and Route 66.

Two friends, one of whom had a very dapper suit with a Christmas jacket and colourful pants, another with a Hawaiian shirt, in honour of Dave said: "We've come all the way from Newcastle and we're big Dave fans and today has been a really fantastic day."

(Image: Newsquest)