It's a motorcycle side car with a difference which is bound to catch the eye of motorists as it makes its way to funerals across Norfolk.And as the picture shows, departed loved ones can have their last ride in the open air thanks to a new funeral service.

Funeral Motorcycles, a family-run funeral business on the Tharston Industrial Estate in Long Stratton, is the only funeral service in East Anglia to offer people the option to have their final ride on a motorbike - and one of just two across Britain.

Set up by 55-year-old Alec Butcher, who has been a funeral director for 25 years, and his 28-year-old son Christopher, the service uses an open sidecar hearse attached to either a Harley Davidson Fat Boy or a 2300cc Triumph Rocket 3.

Mr Butcher, who lives on Lows Lane in Palgrave, said he knew that he wanted to do something a bit different in the funeral profession but wasn't sure until the idea just hit him.

'I've been in the funeral profession for a long time and I have been a motorcyclist since I was 15, so I merged my two passions. I felt people's funerals should reflect their lives.

'The reaction I've had from people has been great. People have been really keen to talk to me.'

The business was set up in June and Mr Butcher and his son have already held one motorcycle funeral in Norwich and say there has been a lot of interest in the service, which also offers a Mercedes limousine.

The funeral director said: 'It's very new business but we've had a large amount of people who have shown interest and who have said to me that they've put my business card in their wills.

'The hardest thing is getting people to talk about their own funeral but it is important.'

Funeral Motorcycles are able to supply their motorcycle hearse all over Britain and hopes that riders and non riders will like the option of arriving at their funeral in style.

'It's very important to supply people with the funeral they want and it's nice we can do that for people,' added Mr Butcher.

'But it's not just for motorcycle riders but anyone who wants something a bit different.'

Do you have a job that is different? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk