THE unmistakable roar of a Harley-Davidson engine will soon be available to accompany funeral corteges in the county.

After two years in the making, last week funeral directors Roy Folland and Son took delivery of a custom-built Road King hearse - thought to be the first of its kind in Wales.

With sparkling chrome and polished black paintwork, the hog's iconic silhouette has been adapted to lead an elegant Victorian-style hearse.

Lovingly made by Arizona-based engineer Jack Feather, of Tombstone Hearse and Trike, the five-wheeled black beauty has had a long journey to Pembrokeshire.

Robin Folland said he first came up with the idea in 2015, after being asked to provide a motorcycle and sidecar hearse for a service.

"It was expensive to hire, and we felt it didn't quite offer what we wanted," he said.

"So we had a look online and found a man in America who makes these, and they're like nothing you've seen before."

“I said if we're going to do this, we're going to do it properly,” added father Roy, who started the funeral firm in 1965.

After almost a year in production, the bike rolled into the UK in September, but faced a series of obstacles.

Despite being road-legal in America, the bike was not able to be driven on UK roads.

“There's nothing quite like it in the UK, so there was no-one who could MOT it for us – there's nothing to compare it to,” said Robin.

“It's been nine months to get it through.”

The firm also had to buy a 23-foot custom-made trailer to transport the vehicle, and the bike spent several weeks at Harley-Davidson being checked over.

But after a journey of more than 5,000 miles, the hearse arrived in Haverfordwest on Thursday, and the firm has already been inundated with calls.

“We've had so much interest already, enquiries from across the country,” said Robin.

“Everyone who has seen it has loved it, and not just bikers.

“We've had people stop us and say 'I want that when I go.”

Asked how much the vehicle cost, Roy said: “I could have bought two flats with the money!”

But both Robin and Roy are convinced it was money well-spent.

“Because it's the first of its kind here it's been a difficulty journey,” added Robin. “It's taken 20 years off my life!

"But now we can provide that something extra for families."

Added Roy: “When you're able to help people who are going though something so terrible, and give them the send-off they want - it confirms to me that this is still the best job in the world."