HUNDREDS of bikers flooded the roads this Easter Sunday as the popular Durham Easter Egg Run returned for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic.

The mass ride-out sees hundreds of bikers ride to Darlington and Durham hospitals to deliver Easter eggs to poorly children.

The Northern Echo: The bikers flooded Woodland Road on their way to drop off chocolate eggs to children at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe bikers flooded Woodland Road on their way to drop off chocolate eggs to children at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The last run in 2019 before the Covid pandemic was thought to be a record-breaker, with around 900 bikers taking part.

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The Northern Echo: Hundreds of bikers were involved in the Easter Egg Run. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTHundreds of bikers were involved in the Easter Egg Run. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: The event always draws in crowds of local people. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe event always draws in crowds of local people. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: The bikers delivered Easter eggs to poorly children in hospitals in Durham and Darlington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe bikers delivered Easter eggs to poorly children in hospitals in Durham and Darlington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

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The bikers departed from the the Durham Tesco in Dragonville at 10am on Easter Sunday morning, April 17, to travel en-masse to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The Northern Echo: Sunday morning saw bikers deliver chocolate eggs to University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTSunday morning saw bikers deliver chocolate eggs to University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: The real-life Easter bunnies of the North East. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe real-life Easter bunnies of the North East. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Many bikers turned out in fancy dress. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTMany bikers turned out in fancy dress. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

After a break at the hospital to enable the children to see the bikes and to deliver Easter eggs to the children's wards, the convoy then returned to Durham to deliver eggs to the University Hospital.

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Driving down Woodland Road in Darlington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTDriving down Woodland Road in Darlington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Durham and Darlington Easter Egg Run 2022. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTDurham and Darlington Easter Egg Run 2022. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Every year hundreds of people line the streets to wave the bikers past and Tony said alongside bringing a smile to poorly children's faces, the community element of the run is a huge part of its appeal.

Speaking before this year's run, organiser Tony Hudspith from Hartlepool said: "There's a lot of excitement around it.

"Obviously over the years to have built it up, it was getting to be a really big event and we're just hoping that people will still have the enthusiasm for this year's as we are hoping people will have missed it."

The Northern Echo: Smiles all round this Easter Sunday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTSmiles all round this Easter Sunday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: The bikers looked happy to be back after a two-year break. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe bikers looked happy to be back after a two-year break. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

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