Biker festival on after shooting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8065477.stm

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A police force's opposition to an annual biker festival marred by the fatal shooting of a Hells Angel two years ago has been rejected.

Gerry Tobin was shot dead on the M40 as he returned home from the Bulldog Bash in Warwickshire in August 2007.

Festival organisers feared the police objection could prevent this year's event going ahead.

But they said a bid by Warwickshire Police to scrap it had been rejected by Stratford-upon-Avon district council.

In November, seven members of rival biker gang The Outlaws were given life sentences for the murder of Mr Tobin, from Mottingham, south east London.

Festival organisers said the police's objection did not provide enough evidence to overturn the authority's decision last year to extend the event's licence until 2018.

In a statement the organisers said: "The Bulldog organisers are justifiably pleased with the announcement and now hope to work with police to ensure the safety and success of this year's show."

Warwickshire Police had called for a review of the event's licence because of concerns about "rising levels of violence between criminal members of motorcycle gangs".