Santa gets on two wheels to deliver presents as bikers help with charity event

A total of 300 bikers from across the West Midlands and Shropshire came together on Sunday to present children at Birmingham Children's Hospital with Christmas presents.

Families staying at Ronald McDonald House were also given much-needed household items.

The bikers were joined by motorcycle stars, former British Superbike champion John Reynolds, and paramedic Steve Harris, who headed up the convoy on the journey.

Riders dressed up as elves, reindeer, snowmen and even Santa to travel from Streetbike, on Dudley Road, Halesowen, to Ronald McDonald House, on St Mary's Row, Birmingham.

Gary Marshall, owner and director of Streetbike said: "The ride out went very very well.

"The aim of the event was not only to make sure that children at Birmingham Children's Hospital received a present but that Ronald McDonald House also got the basic every day essentials that it needs to keep going.

"So we took two vans piled high with toys as well as basics like tea and coffee to the children and their families."

Stewart Boggild, founder of Bridgnorth Bikers and one of the organisers for the day, said it had been fantastic day.

"To see the smiles on the children's faces when we arrived, that makes it all worthwhile," he said.

"I think we had the whole of Birmingham out there and cheering us on when we turned up."

The organisers are already looking forward to their next charity event.

Mr Boggild said: "You'll absolutely see us again soon.

"We'll be organising the Easter Egg run next year, so watch this space for that."

The group also hopes charitable events such as the festive toy run will help change the public image of bikers.

"Bikers have a bit of an image problem and sometimes get a bad press, so we aim at showing who the bikers really are and what we're really like," added Mr Boggild.