There are further indications from the Steam Packet that 2011 could see a bumper TT.

With six weeks to go to the start of practice week, the company forward bookings for passengers are eleven per cent up on 2010.

There's more good news in relation to motorcycles, with six per cent more forward bookings than this time last year.

The company shipped over 10,000 bikes to the Island for TT 2010.

The company decribes the number of bookings as 'healthy', but says final figures won't be known until after the event.

This year marks the centenary of racing on the world famous mountain course, and a number of special events have been arranged to celebrate the anniversary.