AN Atherton couple travelled more than 2,500 miles on an unusual pilgrimage ... to a factory which shut down in the 1970s.

Scooter fanatics drove their scooters across Europe to see the famous Lambretta factory in Milan.

And next weekend they will re-live their emotional journey with scooter club members from across Britain at a rally in Atherton.

Kevin 'Ginger' Lawton and his wife Caroline have just returned home to Railway Street from the week-long round trip to Italy.

Kevin said: "We're both Lambretta fanatics and we've travelled to various countries on them. But we'd never been to Italy and we just had to go this year. It's the 50th anniversary of the factory opening and the bulldozers will move in later this year so we had to go and see it."

Cruising at speeds of around 60 miles per hour the duo drove through Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland before arriving in Italy.

Kevin said: "Caroline's clutch cable broke as soon as we got off the ferry at Zebrugge and we got stopped by the police on the Italian border but we got through OK in the end."

The couple also visited a museum dedicated to the history of the Lambretta which is mecca for thousands of scooter fans each year.

From Friday, the Bolton Spartans Scooter Club is playing host to scooter drivers from around Britain in a special rally at Atherton Colls FC next to the Formby Hall.

Fans of Lambrettas, Vespas or any kind of scooter can join the Bolton club by calling Kevin on 01942 886919.

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