FOLLOWING a query about Chopper bikes, Lesley Smyley wrote in by e-mail: "My twin brother won a new Chopper bike in the 1980's in a competition organised by Opal Fruits and Spangles.

"I can remember that it was delivered to our neighbour, as we were not home.

"The thrill my brother got at winning the bike was like all his Christmases had come together. I can remember being very jealous of him and that bike.

"One day, I had to go to the shops and decided to borrow his bike without telling him. Off I went riding through Garston Park, thinking that I looked pretty good riding the bike.

"On the way back from the shops, I lost control of the bike and went straight over the handlebars and hit the ground on my face. When I got up there was blood on my face and parts of my front teeth on the ground.

"My mother had to take me to the dentist, who wouldn't do anything until I reached 16, as my teeth were still growing. As you can imagine, I was so upset, as I had to go around with broken front teeth for four years. My brother had no sympathy for me and told me it was my punishment for taking his bike without asking.

"That Chopper bike has cost me more than £2,000 over the years getting my teeth sorted."

Gary Trollope, of Carpenders Park, wrote: "Like many children in the 1970's, all I wanted was a Chopper bike. I received one for Christmas such joy. But then I had to 'learn' to ride a bike all over again, what with raised steering handles, and a central gear change lever on the frame.

"There were four of us with Choppers, but one of my friends was quite small he ended up with a bike called a Budgie (I believe). We thought we were the bee's knees.

"We took those bikes everywhere, down hills, muddy slopes, through small streams. Good, clean fun for young kids. Do kids have as much fun now? Then we had no computers or games consoles."

Do any former Chopper riders have any pictures of themselves and their beloved bikes?