A BLAZE of yellow roared into Oxford as dozens of bikers delivered toys to poorly children in hospital.

Members of the Oxford, Cheltenham and Thames Valley chapters of the Harley Davidson Owners Group presented puzzles, books and toys to young people at the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

It was the 13th annual motorcycle toy run – renamed the Jake Spicer Memorial Run in 2010, after the Blackbird Leys 15-year-old who lost his six-year battle with bone cancer in 2009.

Each year bikers choose a colour theme for the event – this year it was yellow with the ladies donning yellow wigs, tutus and leg warmers, and all riders added a yellow bow on their bike.

Riders met at the Harley Davidson dealership in Wootton, near Abingdon, at about 11am on Sunday, and took a slow ride to the John Radcliffe Hospital site in Headington, where they were greeted by young patients.

Youngsters chatted to bikers and got the chance to sit on the Harley Davidson motorcycles.

One of them was Charlotte Read, 12, a pupil at Bicester’s Cooper School, who has been in hospital for a fortnight recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome. It’s a condition that attacks the nervous system, Her father Matt Read, 46, of Scampton Close, Bicester, said: “I think it was fantastic. They were lovely and friendly and let the kids sit on their bikes.”

Jean Harding, a member of the Oxford chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners Group, said: “Jake was our little mascot and for the last couple of years we have done this in his name.

“His family were there and I guess for them it was quite precious. They have a day of reflection.”

She said although the group received some toy donations, bikers usually bought gifts themselves.

Ms Harding added: “It went well – we had about 100 bikers.

“We took a slow ride to the John Radcliffe Hospital and when we arrived there were a few kids downstairs already.

“They got to have a look around the shiny bikes and sit on them.

“We arrived in noisy style as always – it seemed to go well. It was all for the kids, just to see a smile on their faces is what it was all about.”

Teenager Jake was a tireless charity worker. He was passionate about motorcycles and was made an honorary member of the Oxford Harley Davidson chapter.