AN ANNUAL police event which sees bikers deliver Easter eggs to sick children across the region has fallen victim to the cuts.

Durham Police’s Easter Egg Run had become a popular fixture in the calendar, with hundreds of bikers delivering chocolate eggs to children spending Easter in the region’s hospitals each year since 2006.

However, Sergeant Iain Rodgers today (Tuesday, January 7) announced the event had been cancelled for 2014.

In a statement on the Bike Wise website, he said it was a “challenging new year” for the Durham and Cleveland forces and five officers were to be cut from the motorcycle team, leaving a full-time squad of one sergeant and eight constables.

“This clearly brings with it certain challenges, a need to re-focus upon our priorities and to be realistic about what we can and can’t do with significantly fewer resources and a host of demands on the horizon.

“In view of this we’ve taken the difficult decision that we will no longer be arranging the traditional Easter Egg Run,” he said.

Sgt Rodgers invited people to make donations so Easter eggs can still be bought for children at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The Bike Wise motorcycle event will still be held at Durham Police’s Aykley Head headquarters, this year on Sunday, July 20, along with Bike Safe workshops.

The Bike Wise Mini Bike Club will also continue.

For more information, visit bikewise.org.uk