MEMORABILIA of American daredevil motorcyclist Evel Knievel, pictured, will be returning to the US from its home at an Oxfordshire air base.

Motorcycles, leathers and personal memorabilia belonging to the daredevil – who died in 2007 – have been stored at Heyford Park, a former military base, for the past year.

Since 2010 Mr Knievel’s estate has been touring the globe as part of an exhibition of some of his possessions, but has recently been in temporary storage. It includes the Harley Davidson bike that crashed as Mr Knievel attempted to jump over a tank of sharks.

Paul Silver, executive director of Dorchester Group which owns Heyford Park, said: “We were delighted to be able to offer spacious and secure storage space and to commemorate a truly iconic legend.

“His bravery and showmanship inspired fans for generations and it is only fitting that the ultimate Cold War cowboy’s prized possessions found a temporary home in Europe’s best preserved Cold War site.”

Heyford Park is now home to offices and business units as well as storage facilities.