Petrolhead St Bernard dons goggles and helmet to ride in motorbike sidecar near Peterborough

Pooch Louie, a pedigree St Bernard, joins his owner Alan Valkeith, 77, on trips around their local town and turn heads wherever they go.

Alan, from March, near Peterborough., said eight-year-old Louie didn't hesitate to jump in the sidecar of his Honda GL1500 Gold Wing when he adopted him seven years ago.

The 'hairy biker' and his human companion have even been pulled over by the police - just so they can get a photo.

Retiree Alan said: "Every time we go out, it's an adventure.

"Louie gets excited when he sees the motorbike because he knows he gets to go out.

"Sometimes people point, other times they'll overtake and then pull over to take a picture.

"People take a second look because they can't believe what they're seeing. The police have even stopped us asking for a picture."

Alan has previously had three St Bernard pets who all enjoyed the sidecar - with Louie being dubbed "Louie the Fourth".

The biker's love of motoring with an over-sized sidekick began more than 20 years ago – when he and dog Harley would head out on the roads.

His previous pooch, Hugo Boss, passed away in 2019 and the charity St Bernard Trust asked Alan if he'd be prepared to take on Louie.

He said: "Louie had been abandoned in Liverpool and I couldn't say no.

"The Trust knew how well I'd looked after my St Bernards and every so often I send them pictures of Louie so they can see how he's getting on."

The pup, who was almost two when Alan adopted him, was originally hyper, "charging around the room, over furniture and stealing food" - but took the sidecar immediately.

Alan explained: "When I get the motorbike and sidecar out, you can tell by the way he acts that he's excited.

"He's harnessed in so he can't jump out and there's enough room for him to lay down if he wants to.

"The first time, I put his harness on, opened the door of the sidecar and he just got in."

Louie, who weighs 66kg (10 stone), is kitted out with "doggles" and a crash helmet - although he has begun to shun them in his old age.

Alan, who also has two cats, is also close to finishing a "doggy caravan" to attach to the back of his bike - so he and Louie can go on short trips overnight.

He added: "The wallpaper is all newspaper and it will tow behind the bike so Louie and I can go on holiday.

"I've painted it a similar colour to the bike.

"We'll just do one-day holidays, staying overnight relatively locally.

"Hopefully we'll do this for as long as Louie lives. We treat everyday as it comes."