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Video: Motorcyclists
brave the cold at this year's Whitstable toy run.

by Katie Alston

Icy roads led to an unprecedented
situation for the Whitstable Christmas Toy Run.

After a warning from police about
treacherous driving conditions, the charity scaled back their plans
for the mass delivery of toys to sick and disadvantaged
children.

Around 50 motorcycles did however
still descend on the Gorrell Tank car park on Sunday to brave the
arctic temperatures. Miss Whitstable sounded the klaxon and the
bikes, some of which were driven by Father Christmas and others
which were decorated in tinsel, drove out on mass. A live band kept
the festive spirits running high as the donated presents were
loaded into vans.

The weekend toy run will now act as
a warm up to the main event which has been arranged for December
19.

The Toy Run was started up in 1983
and as well as the Christmas event there is also an Easter egg
run.

Organiser Steve Stubbs said: “We
have never had to do anything like this before and postpone a toy
run.

“The turnout was disappointing but
we expected it, and we did warn people in advance that they would
be taking part at their own risk.

“The police did advise we cancel
Sunday’s run or use cars, because of the ice on the roads and the
massive amount of snow we had last week. But that isn’t really what
the event is about.

“The focus is turning to Sunday,
December 19, which will be the main toy run.

“We are expecting a massive number
of people to come along, and fingers crossed there won’t be any
snow and it won’t be quite as cold.

“The children got a few presents at
the weekend but there will be mountains more when we make our
second delivery to our chosen charities and hospitals in a couple
of weeks.”

See more pictures in this
Thursday's Whitstable Gazette.