A motorcycle club has made a festive run delivering toys to children this winter.

The Dengie and South Essex Bikers group dressed up as Santa, reindeer and elves to deliver presents to Broomfield Hospital and Little Havens Hospice.

The group of more than 50 riders, led by organiser Steve Maples, set off from Maldon with sacks of books, games and DVDs.

A spokesman said: “After handing out gifts at the Phoenix ward while singing Christmas carols, the riders showed off their powerful bikes to several excited young patients and allowed them to jump on board.”

The Dengie and South Essex Bikers group was started on Facebook by Dengie resident Steve in January this year to share his passion for biking and arrange trips and events.

The group now has more than 1,000 members.

Steve said: ‘‘I expected four or five people to get in touch, but almost a year later there’s 1,100 of us.

“I believe we’re now one of the largest groups in Essex and everyone has been incredibly supportive.’

“The ride went very well – we had 60 bikers at one point.

“At Broomfield Hospital, we walked around the ward, met some of the families and let a few of the children sit on the bikes and rev them.

“We then went to Little Havens Hospice in where we dropped off more toys and went in and had a chat with some of the staff.”

For Steve and his partner Leanne Smith, the trip was especially poignant as the couple recently lost their daughter Paige Elisha, who was born at 35 weeks.

The couple have been fundraising in Paige’s memory and are on target to raise more than £2,000 for Broomfield’s maternity unit.

Steve added: “My friend Wayne Stockwell suggested a toy run to Little Havens and I thought it was right to head to Broomfield too.

“We only started to organise it six weeks ago and it was great to get so many people along.

“It’s such a great cause and riders from other groups joined us.

‘’One of the boys on the ward was the son of one of our members and it turned out he was given our daughter’s teddy, which we’d donated.

“It was the perfect ending and a lovely occasion.’’

Mid Essex Hospitals’ fundraising co-ordinator Charlotte Jefcoate said: ‘‘It was amazing to see all the bikes outside the hospital.

“Everyone looked brilliant and the children will love the toys.

“I’d like to say a big thank you from everyone here to Steve and all the bikers who joined in.

“It was a spectacular occasion.’’