BIKERS dressed as Father Christmas took part in a charity ride around the lanes near Okehampton on Christmas Eve.

The 24 intrepid riders from the Devon Trail Riders Fellowship set out from Exbourne Cross dressed in seasonal costume, collecting donations for the Devon Air Ambulance along the way.

The ride took them five hours, covering about 50 miles along green lanes and including stops at Whiddon Down, Fingle Bridge and Chagford, collecting £296.96 in donations to the charity.

The Trail Riders Fellowship (TRP) is a national organisation of motor bike enthusiasts who enjoy riding the network of green lanes in this country following a strict code of conduct.

They stress that they always stick to legal rights of way, riding properly taxed and insured motor bikes, and do not ride on bridleways or footpaths.