HUNDREDS of motorbikes are expected to sweep around Torfaen this weekend as part of charity memorial ride.

The Valleys Commandos Motorcycle Club (VCMC) — Wales’ largest motorbike club — have a reputation for fundraising for various charities.

These range from Wales Air Ambulance and the homeless centre Olive Branch Day Centre to Blackwood woman Trudy Jones who was killed in the Tunisia terror attacks.

On Saturday, March 25, the club will raise money and awareness for the mental health charity Mind.

The event will commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of former Pontypool VCMC chapter president Michael ‘Miffa’ Matthews, of High Street Pontypool, who died suddenly on March 25, 2016.

The one-year anniversary ride will set off from Pontypool United RFC through Pontypool and Cwmbran and will leave the club at noon.

Visitors on the day will be able to view the bikes before and after the event at Pontypool RFC.

Mr Matthews had close ties to Pontypool United RFC as his father, Tom, was also the club’s chairman for 40 years before passing away in 2013.

A similar procession of hundreds of bikers also swept across Pontypool last year for Mr Matthew’s funeral.

As previously reported by the Free Press, he was described by a neighbour as a “genuine bloke (who always had time to speak to you even if you didn’t really know him”.

Colin Williams, of the VCMC, added that the group chose the charity Mind for this event because “there are a lot of people who suffer (from mental health)."

The charity Mind — founded in 1946 — offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and works to raise public awareness and understanding towards the issue.

For more information on the event, search 'Valley Commando’s MC Charity Bike Ride' on Facebook.