THE Santa bikers have raised more than £25,000 for one of the region's best loved charities.

Every year in the run up to Christmas the Teesside-based Boundary 500 motorcycling group get dressed up as Santa for a sponsored charity ride from Thornaby to Redcar and back.

The money has all been collected and handed over to Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in Normanby, Middlesbrough.

More than 160 riders took part the motorcycle ride in November with thousands of onlookers lining the route which included Stockton High Street. The collection was slightly down on last year's £29,000 raised but overall it means the group have now raised more than £200,000 for the charity in the last nine years.

Much of the organising of the ride is done by co-founder of the group, Brian Laverick and his wife, Carole, said she and others help out and follow in the support bus handing out chocolates.

She said: "It's a marvellous atmosphere. The first time I did it, I thought there might be the odd bad temper because of holding up traffic; but not a bit of it. Everyone is so supportive and smiling, it's really something. Zoe's Place is something close to Brian's heart and all the lads. They're really proud about doing something that charity."