A widow has claimed being repeatedly turned down by insurance firms as she attempted to take out bike insurance for her late husband’s Harley-Davidson.

The motorbike is worth £7,000 and the widow considered it wise to insure it against fire and theft, but because she had no licence her bid was not successful.

She explained in a newspaper report that the bike, which they had used regularly to tour the UK and Europe, was securely kept in a garage and that she had no plans to ride it.

But this did not change the situation as no insurer was willing to offer her an insurance policy.

Despite the widow’s experience getting an insurance cover against theft or damaged should not be a major issue as there are laid-up policies for such purposes.

And many insurers offer a cover under the condition that the bike is garaged and not driven or used.

The woman was, in the end, able to get an insurer to offer her a laid-up policy, which also covers the bike if is being trailered to custom shows.