HUNDREDS of bikers turned out to make Easter a little sweeter for children spending the bank holiday in hospital.

About 300 riders joined an Easter Egg Run from Durham City to Darlington Memorial Hospital and back to Durham University Hospital to drop off dozens of eggs at the children’s wards.

The annual event had been organised by Durham Police since 2005 but cuts to the force meant that there was no police presence this year.

Instead Hartlepool biker Tony Hudspith took it upon himself to organise the run which garnered a huge following on Facebook.

He said that at first he expected about 50 people to join in and he was staggered by the overwhelming response from the North-East biking community.

“It’s just been fantastic,” he said. “So many more people have turned up than I expected.

“I had registration forms for about 300 people and I reckon we’ve topped that, it’s just been incredible.”

Although there were no police officers to escort the ride or wave the bikers through road blocks or red lights as in previous years, the ride went smoothly with no disruption.

Scores of residents turned out along the route on the A167 to wave the bikers by and Teesside engineering firm Intelect supplied a van to escort the bikers and transport the hundreds of donated Easter eggs.

A Facebook page set up to support the event – Durham Easter Egg Run 2014 – was filled with pictures by the riders taking part and members of the public who snapped the scores of bikes as they rode by.

A number of people left comments praising the event and Mr Hudspith for taking the time to organise the ride.