A MASSIVE Merseyside charity event which raises thousands of pounds for poorly children faces an uncertain future after divisions emerged between organisers.

The Wirral Egg Run traditionally takes place in the run-up to Easter and features thousands of motorcyclists travelling in convoy from New Brighton to Wirral hospital.

But two separate groups emerged after last year’s event and – with two separate websites representing them – are promoting Egg Runs on different dates this year.

Dave Morrison, spokesman for the www.wirraleggrun.co.uk group last night insisted they had the backing of the police and Wirral Council.

He said: “There is only one Egg Run and that is on Sunday March 29.”

Mr Morrison said there had been “some politics” within the group which organised last year’s event which led to the split and they had asked the rival group to remove their website (www.wirraleggrun.org) which claims the run is actually to take place a week earlier.

He said: “There is only one authorised date and that is 100% supported by the council and police.”

At the moment this organisation is recruiting stewards for the event which last year saw around 7,000 bikers make the trip.

But Mr Morrison said the existence of a competing website was causing confusion for those wanting to sign up to help. He appealed for helpers to contact them through their website.

Last night a spokeswoman for Wirral Council confirmed the March 29 event is the Egg Run they are supporting.

She said: “We have received traffic management plans for March 29 – no event information has been received for an event on March 22.”

However, Ian Kendrick, who was chairman of the Egg Run last year and is heading up plans for a run on March 22, said the situation over which Egg Run will take place this year is still “hanging in the balance”.

He said he did not want to discuss the details of the dispute but said two factions had emerged after the 2008 event.

Mr Kendrick said: “There has been a difficult dispute going on over the last year and it’s all hanging in the balance.”

Last year’s event was the most successful event in the 28-year history of the Egg Run, which became Europe’s biggest fundraising motorcycle convoy. It involves thousands of bikers gathering in Wirral to take part in a 20-mile run around the peninsula to deliver presents and Easter eggs to young patients at Wirral’s Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals through the Jellybean Kids’ Appeal.

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