AROUND 800 kind-hearted bikers delivered chocolate treats to sick children as the 30th annual Gingers Easter Egg Run took place on Saturday.

The event was first organised in 1987 in a bid to change people's negative perceptions of bikers.

The riders give an Easter egg or make other donations to children in hospital after travelling there in a convoy of motorbikes and scooters.

This year they rode for two hours from Leigh Miners Welfare Institute to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, arriving at 1.30pm.

Event founder Kevin ‘Ginger’ Lawton, 63, who leads the convoy, said: “The hard work we put in to organise it is worthwhile when we see the children's reactions after getting to the hospital to give them the eggs.

“The hospital makes a fun day of it for the children.

"When you see a massive convoy of bikes and scooters behind you it brings tears to your eyes.”

Matty Higginson, from Atherton, drives the van which carries the Easter eggs to the hospital.

The 32-year-old said: “When we arrived with the eggs you could see the pleasure on the children's faces. They loved it.

“As always everyone was so generous with the amount of eggs they supplied.

"We also received generous donations from businesses.”

The riders were accompanied to the hospital by members of the Bike Marshals company for safety reasons.

Before they set off Leigh Miners Welfare Institute held a raffle to win a signed Leigh Centurions rugby ball.

A range of charity stalls were open at the Kirby Road club from 8am.