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More than £100,000 was raised for the Care of Police Survivors charity.

Officers laying wreaths at The Beat memorial

Hundreds of people gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday to pay tribute to officers who died on duty.

The Annual Service of Remembrance was held by charity Care of Police Survivors (COPS).

More than 200 officers and staff rode into the event, having cycled hundreds of miles from various locations across the UK, on the Police Unity Tour.

Riders arriving at the National Memorial Arboretum (COPS)

Tour organiser Chief Superintendent Rob Atkins with other officers and supporters, started their journey at 6.30am on Friday in London.

The cyclists stopped at various locations during the 180-mile journey, including Luton and Bedford, to pay tribute to fallen heroes.

These included Bedfordshire officer, PC Jonathan Henry, who was murdered on shift in 2007 responding to reports of a stabbing in Luton town centre, and PC Daniel Gibb, from Bedford, who served in the Metropolitan Police. In 2010 on the way to work, his motorbike collided with a minibus.

The riders met with more than 200 others in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

The journey to the arboretum concluded with a memorial bracelet being  presented to the families of fallen officers by each rider.

More than £100,000 was raised for COPS, which supports the surviving families of lost officers.

Chief Supt Atkins said: “The ride went really well and the weather was on our side.

“Once we safely arrived at Tamworth in Staffordshire we were met by an impressive 200 plus riders. It was a good weekend and we’ve had some fantastic support.”

He added that next year he hopes every force will be represented.

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