SOME pensioners would be pleased with a cup of tea and a slice of cake to celebrate their birthday.

But Bridget Tribling celebrated becoming 80 years young by heading out on the highway on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Mrs Tribling was picked up by the Bridgwater chapter of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) as she was out shopping on Bridgwater High Street on Sunday and taken for a cruise up to Burnham and back.

Bridget’s daughter, Pippa Earle from Taunton, arranged the birthday surprise and told the Mercury: “She absolutely loved it.

“She was a bit overwhelmed, to be honest, and she hasn’t stopped smiling since.”

Bridget hasn’t been on a Harley since 1958 and has been desperate to ride one of the iconic motorcycles ever since.

Pippa said: “She’s always been in awe of them and I just knew I needed to do something about it for her 80th.

“I was wracking my brains to think of a way to make it happen and came across HOG on the internet.

“They were absolutely great with my mum and the rest of us.

“They made her day and I really can’t thank them enough.”

The bikers took Bridget on a ride up to Burnham on the coast road and rode back along the M5 and afterwards awarded an ecstatic Bridget a HOG pin as a momento.

Debs Atterton of Bridgwater HOG said: “She was welling up a little bit when we gave her the pin, which was lovely.

“It nearly got me going too.

“It was really lovely to see someone who loved being on the bike so much.

“She had a constant grin on her face and was giving us the thumbs up on the ride through to Burnham.

“It was nice to be able to help make Bridget’s birthday so special.”

To contact Bridgwater HOG visit www.bridgwaterhog.co.uk