THE man behind a police force's pioneering bike safety campaign is heading for the House of Commons to meet biker MPs and industry leaders.

Superintendent David Short, of North Yorkshire Police, has been invited to a reception at the Commons by the all-party Parliamentary Motorcycle Group.

Supt Short, a member of the Government's Motorcycle Task Force road safety strategy group, will also meet senior figures from the world of motorcycling at the reception on July 24.

He said: "Bike Safe has been endorsed nationally by the Association of Chief Police Officers as 'best practice' and has been adopted by many other forces.

"This reception is an excellent opportunity for us to make some high level contacts and to spread the message that a safety campaign like North Yorkshire's can be a life-saver anywhere in the country."

The award-winning campaign has included skills workshops for riders, particularly in notorious danger areas, and police officers giving out biking advice at a range of events.

Meanwhile, Supt Short is also warning that a predicted improvement in the weather could spell danger for bikers.

He said: "As a motorcyclist myself, I know all too well how frustrating it has been over this long rainy period. It will be a real joy to blow the cobwebs away with a good weekend run.

"But it can be all too easy for riders to get carried away with the joys of being back on those twisty country roads."