THE annual Iron Ore Motorcycle Rally will be celebrating its 20th year next month.

Motorcyclists from all over the country will descend on Egremont Rugby Union Club from next Friday to Sunday (August 5 to August 7) to enjoy the weekend and compete for silverwear in a variety of classes.

Friday night’s live music comes from Colin Nichol – an ex-Florence Pit iron ore miner – and his band MT Arms, while on Saturday, Lonehead, from Glasgow, a three-piece band playing their own brand of modern classic rock, will visit.

“Lonehead went down well a couple of years ago and Colin’s band will play on Friday. The bike shows will be on Saturday,” said organiser Grant Hollis.

There will also be a performance from Rock Solutions, who have entertained at the rally for a number of years.

Now entering its 20th year, with only one interruption due to flooding, the festival is a highlight in the calendar for motorcyclists.

Mr Hollis said: “We have a lot of regulars who are coming again this year and we have had interest from all over the place. It’s an annual event so it has become quite established in the biking calendar now.

“Some of these rallies set off and then they try to get too big, but we have kept it simple and stuck it out. People come from all over the place now and it’s a good weekend.”

At the festival, classes include best street bike, best trike and best custom bike.

There are also awards for furthest-travelled male and female rider and for the best tattoo at the rally.

Alongside the shows and live music, there will be a real ale marquee, draught beers and ciders and a can bar.

The festival also includes food and camping facilities on the rugby club’s Bleach Green site.

For more information visit ‘Iron Ore Rally – Egremont’ on Facebook.