A cavalcade of motorbikes will mark the 21st birthday of a fallen Bradford soldier on Sunday.

The British Legion has organised the Ride of Respect in memory of Private Christopher Kershaw, of Idle, who died with five other troops in an explosion in Afghanistan in March last year.

Private Kershaw, who was 19 at the time, would have been celebrating his landmark 21st birthday this Sunday.

His mum, Monica Kershaw, said: “It was the British Legion’s idea – it is about respecting Christopher on his 21st birthday. This shows that the British Legion is still thinking about Christopher on his birthday.”

The ride, about 55 miles, will start at Mrs Kershaw’s house and finish in Hipswell, near Catterick, where Private Kershaw’s ashes are.

Among those expected to take part in the ride are former paratrooper Ben Parkinson. He lost both his legs, broke his back, hips and ribs and was brain damaged when a Taliban mine exploded in Afghanistan in 2006.

Mr Parkinson was an Olympic torchbearer last year.

A little girl whose dad was one of the five men who died alongside Private Kershaw is also expected to attend, said Mrs Kershaw. The youngster never saw her dad before he died.

At least 22 motorbikes will take part in the ride, with British Legion bikers coming from as far afield as Wales, Manchester, the Wirral and Pontefract.

They will gather at Mrs Kershaw’s house on Farm Hill Road, Eccleshill, for breakfast before heading to Private Kershaw’s grave in Idle at 10.15am.

They will spend 30 minutes at the grave, before travelling to Hipswell.

Mrs Kershaw added: “I want to thank the British Legion for all the help they have given us, and the help they have given me. They have looked after me and I am very grateful for that.”

Private Kershaw, a former pupil of Hanson School, was a member of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. He was the youngest of the six men killed in the blast.

The daughter of Private Daniel Wade, who was one of the five other soldiers killed alongside Private Kershaw, is expected to attend with her mum and family. Little Lexie-Mai, who is almost a year old, never met her father, who died before she was born.

There will be at least 23 motorbikes in the event, which will also raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Mrs Kershaw will wear a British Legion jacket with a picture of her son painted on it.