Ref. 28141-31Hospital is not the nicest place to spend Christmas - especially for children. But the youngsters at Great Western Hospital had a surprise in store at the weekend. victoria tagg reports.

Jordan O'Brien will not eat or drink this Christmas but he is still looking forward to the occasion - thanks to a bumper delivery of toys at the Great Western Hospital.

Jordan, 11, from Eldene, was just one of 26 patients on the children's ward to receive presents from Pinkertons Motorcycle Club in Swindon.

Unable to swallow, Jordan is fed through a tube in his stomach and has spent much of his life in hospital. He is currently being treated at the GWH for pneumonia.

A Playstation was top of his Christmas wish list - and kind bikers made this dream come true over the weekend.

He said: "I am really looking forward to Christmas. The bikers were brilliant and I cannot wait to try out the Playstation."

His three brothers Nathaniel, 13, Jacob, eight, and Charlie, five, looked equally thrilled when £6,000 worth of toys were brought to the ward.

Jordan's mother Penny Huntley, 34, said: "The GWH has done so much for us. All these toys are the icing on the cake and we are so grateful."

Around 50 leather-clad bikers arrived on their motorcycles and completed a festive lap of generosity, as children watched through the hospital windows.

Alan Hunt, 42, from Pinehurst, posed as Father Christmas and led the convoy of bikers.

He said: "I have been doing this for four years now and wouldn't miss it for the world. It is so fantastic to see all the smiles as you ride past."

His sixth grandchild, Alex, was born at the GWH four months ago.

Mr Hunt said: "The hospital does wonderful work and this is my way of saying a big thank you."

Harley Davidson passenger Amanda Richardson, 45, from Eldene, has been involved in the annual present giving, ever since it first began 12 years ago.

She said: "It is a fantastic occasion. The children are so appreciative, so I always look forward to seeing them."

The Christmas convoy included Playstations, DVD players, CD players, cuddly toys and board games. There were so many toys, Woolworth's offered to drop them off by truck.

The Early Learning Centre donated four pallet loads of goodies for youngsters. And the other presents were bought with money collected by bikers on the streets in Swindon last month.

Mandy Strickland, club secretary, said: "It is a pleasure to bring all these presents to so many deserving children. We were also thrilled with the generosity of Swindon people who supported our collection."

Theresa Wyatt, 32, play supervisor at GWH, said: "This is amazing. The children are so excited. The toys will help make their Christmas extra special."

Victoria Tagg