SHOPPERS were greeted by the bizarre sight of three chickens on scooters in the town centre.

Homelessness charity Urban Outreach took to Victoria Square in bright yellow chicken onesies to spread the word about its latest mission to raise funds to pay for chickens for Christmas dinner.

The trio of charity workers plans take it in turns to ride 500 miles each around 500 miles of coastline in northern Scotland, on a 50cc scooter, whilst dressed as chickens, in a bid to raise £15,000.

The wacky scheme came about because one of the three, Rob Balfour wanted to do something to mark his 50th birthday. Along with Urban Outreach chief executive Dave Bagley, and Street Life project worker Alan Holt, who are also 50, they decided on Chicken Run.

Mr Bagley: “We’re mad. These scooters are not designed for such long journeys, so we have one whole scooter and one in bits to replace it.

“Rob is a whizz with cars, and he can fix anything so his job apart from riding 500 miles is to keep the thing running!”

Urban Outreach is a Christian charity which aims to help disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and young people in Bolton.

The latest fundraising project is to buy chickens as part of the annual Christmas Dinners on Jesus project which provides a Christmas dinner for people who 'need or deserve one', all over Bolton.

There will be approximately 1,300 Christmas hampers, providing lunches for around 4,000 people in Bolton. Families who receive the hampers have been nominated, usually because they’ve fallen on hard times during the year, or been impacted by things that haven’t quite gone their way.

The men took to Bolton town centre in their chicken suits on Wednesday to launch their fundraising campaign. They were met by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, who have chosen Urban Outreach as their Charity of the Year.

Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Roger Hayes said: “I think it is a superb charity. It’s unique, local charity yet it really looks after the homeless, the disadvantaged, the kids who haven’t got meals during the summer holidays, it does all sorts of things. Absolutely brilliant.”

The charity workers are very much looking forward to their fundraiser, however they anticipate that it might not be a smooth ride, as they prepare for any problems that they might face long the way.

The Chicken Run will take place throughout the last weekend of September.

Donations can be made securely online at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/chickenrunbolton Other ways to donate can be found at www.urbanoutreach.co.uk/donate