Superheroes turned out in force to remember the policeman who lost his life during the floods.

The annual Bill Barker Memorial Ride took place at the weekend and the policeman’s wife, Hazel, said it was an amazing day.

Hazel said the motorbike community have been her own superheroes since her husband’s death, so many of them turned out wearing Superman tops.

The 44-year-old died when Northside Bridge in Workington collapsed while he was directing traffic from the crumbling road in the 2009 floods.

Now in its seventh year, bikers gathered at Bill’s hometown of Egremont, before setting off in convoy for the 170-mile trip to Scarborough.

Hazel thanked everyone for their support, saying herself and her four children, Daniel, Simon, Melissa and Emma, were extremely touched.

“It was a day filled with tears, laughter, camaraderie, but most of all, pride and hope for the future,” she said.

“As we all, regardless of the vehicle, travelled together, the overall feeling was that of pride and of respect and for us, Bill’s very humbled family, the feeling of love and support.

“All we have ever wanted is to make Bill proud, if he is somewhere out there, we hope he knows that and how much we still miss him.”

PC Barker was a keen motorcyclist and the money raised from the event will go to the Pride of Cumbria air ambulance, which was close to his heart.

A pin badge, designed by the fmaily, went on sale this week with all proceeds also going to PC Barker’s beloved charity.

Hazel said the biking community has helped them get through the difficult times.

“It’s been quite an emotional, yet humbling, couple of weeks,” she added.

“Words are never enough at times like this, how can words express how much this level of support means to us.

“These wonderful, wonderful people have for the past eight years supported us, cried with us and made us laugh till our sides ached.

“Not one week has gone by that we don’t have some form of contact, whether it’s a knock on the door or a simple text – all the ‘little things in life’ that show they care.”