A BIKER Santa was so overcome by poorly children’s tragic stories that he was forced to retire.

The Father Christmas stalwart’s retirement came after a cancer girl’s mum said her daughter couldn’t truly understand the chemotherapy treatment she faced.

Pinkertons biker Mandy Evans said the poorly girl pleaded to sit on Santa’s knee.

“She said, ‘I’ve got to have this [chemotherapy] and I’m scared,’” said Mandy. “Another girl came over and said, ‘I’ve had mine – I’ll look after you.’”

The story came as a dozen bikers from Swindon group the Pinkertons visited the town centre on Saturday, fundraising ahead of their Christmas ride to Great Western Hospital’s children’s unit later this month.

Every December, the group rides in convoy to the Great Western – delivering thousands of pounds-worth of brand new presents to children on the ward.

Dressed as Santa, one of the bikers brings smiles to the faces of the poorly youngsters. Another biker even dresses his Staffordshire terrier dog, Spike, up as a reindeer.

The annual Christmas toy ride is now in its 26th year. Over more than quarter of a century the bikers estimate they have handed out “well over” £100,000-worth of gifts and donations.

Mandy Evans, club secretary, said: “It’s about giving back to local people. When you go up to the hospital and give the children the toys, you come out in bits. Some of them are so poorly and so incredibly brave.

“Their stories can be very sad. A few years ago there was a little girl on the ward who had been in a crash on the motorway. She had lost her brother and both parents.”

Hospital staff were desperately trying to trace her next of kin, but it wasn’t clear whether they’d be able to get there in time for Christmas day, Mandy said.

Her plight left the bikers deeply moved.

Mandy added: “You couldn’t see her bed for presents by the time we’d finished. There was no way she wasn’t going to have something to cheer her up.”

The toy cause moved town centre shoppers, with several dropping £20 notes into the bikers’ collection tins outside Debenhams.

The generous donations came despite wet weather and slippery roads that kept some bikers away.

This week, Mandy will buy around £5,000-worth of gifts from a hospital wishlist. As well as individual gifts for the children, she will buy television screens and games trolleys for the children’s unit play rooms.

The bikers enjoy the annual ride – but can find the absence of hospital regulars who have passed away hard to deal with.

Mandy said: “You often see the same children from year to year. But then you come the next year and they’re not there. It breaks your heart.”

The annual Christmas toy ride is on Saturday, December 9. The riders will arrive at the Great Western Hospital at around 12.45pm.