And some local kids will have a better Christmas because of it.

The Bathurst and District Hobos and Panorama Motorcycle clubs’ Salvation Army Christmas Appeal Toy Run is usually held on the back of motorcycles, but the sodden conditions on Saturday forced a late change.

Riders instead took to cars to travel around the pubs of the district – including at Perthville, Neville, Mandurama and Carcoar - to collect toys that were then delivered to Bathurst Salvation Army on Stewart Street.

“We did not have as many as usual turn up, because the rain kept everybody away,” Bad Hobos Motorcycle Club president Rose Hancock said.

“But it was a good day. We collected a lot of toys and everyone was very generous.”

The participants had a nice surprise at the Neville Hotel, she said.

“We walked in there and they had made scones with jam and cream.”

Salvation Army Bathurst’s Lieutenant Penny Williams received the toys and was “very impressed and very appreciative”, Ms Hancock said.

And the toys will remain in the Bathurst area to be used as gifts for local kids.

“What’s collected here, because we are doing it locally, stays local,” Ms Hancock said.

“People are actually helping out their local community.”

The run will be back on next year, when participants will no doubt be hoping for some better weather.

“At Mandurama [during the run], the rain was coming through nearly horizontal,” Ms Hancock said.