YOUNG patients staying at Basingstoke hospital will have some extra presents this Christmas – thanks to the efforts of motorcyclists from RAF Odiham.

Five members of the RAF Odiham Motorcycle Club set off from the north Hampshire airbase to deliver more than 50 presents to the children’s ward at the Aldermaston Road hospital.

The gifts, which include board games, puzzles and cuddly toys, will be handed over to Father Christmas who will give them to children in the hospital over the festive period.

Club secretary Tony Hague, an engineer at RAF Odiham, said: “This is the first time we have given gifts to the hospital. We came up with this idea and thought it would be a nice thing to do.

“We do events at the base and we do end up raising a lot of money, part of which we raise for good causes. We try to do something different each year.”

The club, which holds track days at RAF Odiham, is made up of about 300 people, who are either personnel from the base or civilians.

The other members who made the trip were Doug Fowler, officer-in-charge of the club, events committee members Micky Booth and Damo Scott, and Kev Jordan.

Julie Fairbank, health play specialist at Basingstoke hospital, received the sacks of presents.

She said: “It is fantastic. We rely in part on donations for when Father Christmas comes up to the ward to give presents to the poorly children.

“It makes a huge difference at the hospital. It puts a smile on the children’s faces and it makes the parents’ day as well.”