The mods were on the march again in Sheffield this weekend when more than 800 gathered for a scooter rally at the Davy sports ground on Prince Of Wales Road.

They came from Middlesbrough, Southport, Derby and as far away as Scotland for the rally called Hammered In Sheffield that featured a celebration of scooters and mod culture with three live bands, specialist stalls and karaoke.

The faces aren't as young as they were but many the followers of the 1960s cult - some of them originals - came on immaculate scooters in their parkas and formations that scattered holiday makers in Brighton, Skegness and Scarborough in 1964.

But they're a more peaceful, sensible lot these days - Martin Cree from Frecheville even has his scooter done out in Henderson's Relish colours!

Original Lambretta SX 200s. Li 150s and Vespas - costing up to £10,000 fully restored - looked as good as they did when they were imported from Italy in the 60s, some with banks of mirrors and whip aerials, others stripped for speed.

Hundreds of the 2008 vintage camped for the weekend in the sunshine and took in some of the superbly restored scooters - and a few pints and music in the 80-degree heat.

Co-organiser and DJ Fat Piggy said the weekend had been a huge success.

"It was a great weekend and we are going to make it an annual thing because so many people came and had a great time," said Fat Piggy - also known as Jamie Young, from Intake, of the Steel City Scooter Club.

"They came from Doncaster, Louth, Lincoln, Leicester and Chesterfield. One lad whose scooter won the members choice prize did the 700-mile round trip from Paisley in Scotland on his scooter. Not bad for a bike that was designed in the 1950s to take old ladies shopping!

"The scooters are immaculate and people spend a fortune on them. The one I want is a TV200 from 1965, the year I was born, and that will cost me £7,000.

"People buy them for thousands and then spend thousands more on restoring and perfecting them. There are specialist companies that still make spares and people want to get everything perfect."

Bands Naked Potato and The Stoops starred outside on Saturday afternoon and music went until 1am in the Davy Social Club.

"There were some who came in the day and camped overnight on Saturday, others who just turned up for the music at night," added 43-year-old Jamie.

"All in all it was a fantastic weekend and we raised over £1,000 for the Harvey Appeal charity to help a boy in Louth, Lincolnshire who lost his arms and legs after contracting chickenpox."


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