AROUND a thousand bikers from the region are expected to turn up to give out Easter eggs to sick children in hospital.

The annual egg run is taking place on Easter Sunday, when bikers will be dropping off the treats for children at Darlington Memorial Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND).

The Durham Easter Egg Run will be the fourth organised by Hartlepool biker Tony Hudspith, who took it on after cuts to Durham Police meant they could no longer stage the event.

He said: “I wanted to show support for the police by keeping it going. The children shouldn’t miss out on the eggs because of cuts.

“This is the fourth year I’ve done it and it keeps getting bigger and better.”

As well as delivering Easter eggs, there will be a collection which will be divided between the Northumbria Blood Bikes, Miles for Men and the Help Alfie Walk campaign, which is aimed at helping Hartlepool youngster Alfie Smith.

The nine-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, will be seeing the bikes off from their starting point at the Tesco in Dragon Lane, Durham, at 10am on Sunday.

The bikers are expected at Darlington Memorial Hospital at around 10.45am and at UHND at around 1pm.