TWO soldiers will accompany a group of friends onamotorcycle tour of Second World War sites to mark VE Day.

Nine bikers and a four-man support group will visit memorials, graveyards and prison camps to pay their respects to members of the RAF and raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Photographer Jon Sturdy, 58, is one of the support group heading off on the two-week tour on Saturday.

Mr Sturdy, from Brightlingsea, runs a photography workshop at Chavasse VC House and will be taking two of the soldiers he teaches.

He said: “It is going to be a lovely experience. It is something that we can celebrate.”

Their route will take them to Biggin Hill, a key airfield in the Battle of Britain, Dunkirk and Colditz Castle.

They will also be paying their respects at the US Air Force Memorial in Cambridge and the Polish War Memorial in Northolt.

During the trip they will also visit a number of sites which are still used as RAF training bases.

On the 70th anniversary of VE Day, Friday May 8, they will travel to Luneburg Heath, in central Germany, the spot at which the Germans surrendered.

The group have been given six Triumphs and two Harley Davidsons by sponsors Laguna Motors and Maidenstone Harley Davidson.

The team took a similar trip in 2011, called the Great Escape II, in which they visited six sites across Europe.

They took artist Colin Kirby Green, whose father was one of the escapees. Grandfather-offive Mr Sturdy said: “The first tripwas a real eye-opener. It was fantastic. To be part of that again is just wonderful.” For more information and to sponsor their challenge, visit veday at70.com