A motorcycling legend Sammy Miller MBE has received Freedom of New Milton Town.

Sammy picked up the honour at a special meeting of the town council on Wednesday, September 25.

Guests included Cllr David Hawkins, chairman of New Forest District Council, Cllr Paul Hilliard, Mayor of Christchurch, and Sir Desmond Swayne MP and his wife Lady Moira Swayne.

Sammy, an 11-time British Trials Champion, was also pleased to meet up with Goff Beck, former Cllr and a fellow honorary freeman.

He said: “What a great honour. I’m pleased to have put New Milton on the world map as we’re now known for having one of best accepted motorcycle museums in the world.

“Visitors from over 39 countries come to the complex and with numbers growing every year we’re building a brand-new restaurant which will be ready soon. This will allow us to convert the old tea rooms into museum space and add another 100 bikes to our outstanding collection.

“Now that I’m a Freeman of New Milton, I’m most looking forward to driving my alpacas down the High Street and I’m hoping that a free parking permit will be dropping through my letter box any day now.”