Liam the Boyracer (Durham, summer 2006)

Here he is, the Boy Racer! This is Liam's 'blue bikey', a present from Nonna and Nonno (or 'Noonoo', as Liam calls him) - Grandma and Grandpa from Rome. It says POLIZIA on the front. Liam absolutely loves this trike, and throughout the summer we took it out on to the streets in the evening... Liam loved to bomb down the hills of Durham city centre on it, through 'the tunnel' on Church Street (below, left). But best of all was the 'Ride of Mayhem', from a standing start at the top of Elvet Bridge which slopes pretty drastically downhill for 150 metres or so, hurtling down to the end, scattering pedestrians in his wake (see below)... He picks up a hell of a speed by halfway!

One time, Liam was going like the clappers down Elvet Bridge, to the huge enjoyment of the pub-goers in the Swan and Three Cygnets at the bottom of the bridge. When he (mercifully) steered himself away from the oncoming traffic, and crashed safely into the kerb in a self-satisfied heap, they all burst into cheering and applause. Well, he got all shy from the attention! A coy Boy Racer!

A few times he graduated on to South Road, which is much longer (maybe even half a kilometre) and much steeper, and was packed with students obliged to dive for cover as he came careering down toward them, with Dad running behind.