A MOTORCYCLE enthusiast who rode his classic bike the length and breadth of Britain to raise money for a hospital handed over his double donation yesterday.

Self-employed mechanic Steve Race tackled the 2,000- mile marathon to help seriously ill babies and adult patients at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

He started from his home in the Weardale village of Westgate, heading north to John O'Groats, and then south to Lands End.

Apart from a puncture and an oil leak, the 700cc 1958 Royal Enfield, rebuilt by Steve and his son Michael, withstood the journey well.

It enabled him to complete the journey in five days, and collect £1,570 in sponsorship from friends and businesses.

He was also able to lay poppies at the Dambusters Memorial at Haweswater, in Derbyshire.

Steve presented £1,150 to the hospital's special care baby unit, for new cots. Eight years ago, Steve and his wife Anne's baby son died at the hospital.

He also gave £420 to the hospital's intensive care unit, following the sudden death of a friend.

He said: "I had lots of help from all sorts of people, and I can't thank them enough."