Man drowned while trapped in lake weeds

A PICTURE of his dad on a Raleigh Chopper in 1971 sparked an obsession that led to a bike fan amassing a collection worth £50,000.

Harry Potter says he has around 70 of the iconic bicycles, which is one of the world’s biggest.

The 27-year-old said his rarest bike is one from 1969, only produced for the American market. “My favourite is the brand new one which never got used and it’s a rare model as well,” Harry told Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine this week.

“It’s pretty special. I also have one signed by the [rock band] Kaiser Chiefs.”

Shop manager Harry, was gifted his first Chopper for Christmas at the age of 15 in 2010 and he has owned hundreds of them in the years since.

And Harry, of Barmouth, North Wales, spends hours maintaining the bikes, with half kept at the house he owns with girlfriend Melissa, 26, and the rest at his parents’ house.

He said: “I get up at five in the morning some mornings to clean them, doing other stuff with them.

“So yeah, it’s a big part of my life and I do love it. I stack them up all nicely, they all have to be in line. I can’t have the same colour next to each other because that gives me a little bit of an ick. Obviously the white seats have to go together. “They’re unique, it’s a talking point.” Raleigh sold around 1.5 million Choppers before production ended in 1985.

But the bike company are set to sell them again after redesigning a version of the MK2, which will go on sale for £950 on June 20. The original bikes, which have odd-sized wheels and tall handlebars were designed by Tom Karen, the man behind the Popemobile and children’s game Marble Run.

In the 1990s indie band Supergrass rode around on the bikes for the video of their hit song Alright.

Lee Kidger, managing director at Raleigh UK, said: “The Chopper was the most iconic bike that we ever made.

“Potentially, it is the most iconic bike that has ever been made.

“Whenever you mention the Chopper, most people have a story. We want to re-engage with those people and bring some memories back from the 1970s.”

A MAN drowned after he got stuck in weeds while swimming with friends at a lake, an inquest heard.

Robbie-jay Sims, 20, began to flail and shout when he became trapped and vanished under water.

He had been visiting Cotswold Water Park, Wilts, which has 180 lakes.

The warehouse worker, described as “fearless”, died on April 18 last year.

Swindon and Wiltshire coroner’s court heard police noted there were “No swimming” and “Beware of deep water and weeds” signs at the lake.

Senior coroner David Ridley found Robbie, from Swindon, had died due to an accident caused by drowning in fresh water.