HUNDREDS of local fans of culinary duo The Hairy Bikers had the chance to meet their heroes when they came to Basingstoke this week – and, perhaps not surprisingly, there was food on the menu as well.

Si King and Dave Myers paid a visit to Waterstone’s, in Festival Place, to sign copies of their new cookbook Asian Adventure.

Also in store were Matt and Elliney, from Basingstoke’s branch of Wagamama, who handed out welcome samples of duck gyoza and yaki soba to everyone in the queue as they waited for the Bikers to arrive.

The treats did not end there. When The Hairy Bikers took their place at the signing table, they dished out both sweets and sachets of their range of five Hairy Dieters sauces, which are available exclusively at Morrisons supermarket.

Dave, who is in his mid-50s and participated in the last series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, joked: “I can heartily recommend the chilli and the paprika chicken.”

The pair greeted those waiting with loud shouts of hello before Dave spotted the rest of the long queue and quipped: “Have you missed the bus?”

He also revealed that Si, who is in his mid-40s, had just purchased a new motorcycle, adding: “He bought a motorcycle last night when he was drunk at a charity auction!”

First in the queue was local mum Michelle Biggs, from Rooksdown, Basingstoke, who came along with her three-year-old daughter, Evie.

Mrs Biggs, a human resources consultant and Usborne Books salesperson, explained that she was buying Asian Adventure for her husband James as a gift for Father’s Day in June.

She said: “We are all huge fans of The Hairy Bikers and Evie has been asking about coming to see them. My husband is a motorbike enthusiast – I think he’d love to follow in their footsteps!”

Before departing for another signing in Milton Keynes, The Hairy Bikers expressed their delight with the turnout in Basingstoke.

Si remarked: “We’d like to thank everyone for coming to see us. It’s not bad. You come to a Hairy Bikers book signing, and you get chocolate!”