Hundreds of Santas take part in charity run

The Santa run has been running for six years

Hundreds of people dressed up for a Santa fun run and raised money for several charities.

The event took place at The Racecourse, in Northampton, on Sunday, organised by four Rotary Clubs in Northamptonshire.

Festive runners completed a 5km (3.1 miles) or 2.5km (1.5 miles) route.

Andrew Cowling, director of the race said about 200 people, all dressed as Father Christmas, took part. "It's the local community supporting local charities," he added.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Northampton ran in regalia.

Mayor and Mayoress, Paul and Mylissa Joyce, also got involved with the festivities.

Paul said: "It is a great event and of course we had to take part.

"We know that it is so important especially this time of year as many people go without at Christmas, hopefully doing this will help some of those people.

"It's obviously a fun run, but we know the bigger picture is to raise as much as you can for charity as it is supporting our local community."

Mylissa added: "This event is the icing on the cake for Northampton as just recently we have had so many community events, bringing all of us in this county together."

Those taking part choose what charity to raise money for, including Cythina Spencer Hospice in Northampton

A group of 13 people ran in memory of their friend, Steve Lewis, who lost his life to cancer last year.

They raised more than £5,000 for the Cynthia Spencer hospice.

Steve's friend Ian said: "That is where Steve spent the last of his life so we knew it would be right to raise the money for them.

"It is important that these sort of events keep happening."