A GIANT elephant and 20 bikers turned heads as they arrived at York Minster to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

The convoy stopped at York Minster to meet the mum of York schoolboy Jamie Inglis, Vicky, who has devoted her career to helping others affected by childhood cancer.

Jamie passed away last year following a long battle with the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

The charity NCCA UK is giving children with cancer a voice through its Long Way to Go event – an international motorcycle ride which sees a biking convoy escorting an 8ft elephant covered in pictures of children affected by cancer.

The tour takes in locations of importance to young people with cancer all over the UK and Ireland with the aim of raising awareness so children’s lives may be saved through funding and research in the future.

After the visit, Vicky and chief executive of the NCCA Bettina Bungay-Balwah, went in to the Minster to light a candle in Jamie’s memory.

Vicky said: “I had mixed emotions about seeing the elephant as there are pictures of Jamie on it. It’s poignant as the Minster is where we held Jamie’s service. We hope to get the message out to the public conscious this month.”