THE widow of Hairy Biker Dave Myers says she will be ‘forever grateful’ for how the community came together to celebrate her late husband.

Liliana Myers also added she would be 'forever in debt' to the people involved in the Dave Day celebration, which saw nearly 50,000 bikers head to the TV chef's hometown to commemorate his life.

Waves of motorbike riders joined Barrovians for a special event to mark Dave's life in an event that will live long in the memory.

Speaking to The Mail, Liliana said the response for the Hairy Biker was 'unbelievable' and paid tribute to the warmth shown by people in Barrow.

"I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all the people who greeted us so beautifully when we got into Barrow and all the people who made the day a success," she said.

"I was on the first bike and oh my god what an exhilarating time to see all those people lining the streets, to see the joy that people were bringing - it was amazing.

"I knew Dave was loved and I knew Dave loved Barrow, but I never had any idea the event would turn out this way.

"People went over and beyond to facilitate everything and make things work. It was unbelievable."

(Image: Holiday Inn)

Liliana also opened up on the outpouring of love for her following Dave's death and on the day.

She said: "When you're being shown so much affection and so much respect, your heart is growing and growing and my heart was as big as the moon that day.

"It was wonderful to see all those people that day and I'm forever in debt, forever grateful for the day."

Describing how the Hairy Biker always wanted to put Barrow on the map, she said she hoped the day changed perceptions of the town across the country.

"Barrow has had enough bad press, enough bad things said about it, and I really wanted from the bottom of my heart to give something back that was the opposite, something that lifted people's spirits up," Liliana said.

"And 46,176 motorbikes with thousands of people on them came into Barrow - they now know where Barrow is and that's all because of Dave.

She described the journey to Barrow amid a sea of bikes as 'magical' and praised the spectators who lined the route and held banners.

Liliana said people from as far as Malaysia, Cambodia, New Zealand and the USA spoke to her on the day and hoped the event would have provided a boost for Barrow.

"I really hope this event has helped the area financially and economically, obviously, there were so many people coming in on bikes, also coming in on trains and lots of people from abroad," she said.

"I knew Dave had an influence in people's lives but I had no idea it reached so far."

Liliana said she was grateful to everyone involved in organising the event as well as local bands, groups and schools who came together to celebrate the day.

"This demonstrates how beautiful a community Barrow can be," she said.