OVER 200 Santas took to the start line in Barnoldswick in a dash to raise thousands of pounds for charity on Christmas Eve.

Previous Santa Fun Runs in Barnoldswick have raised £26,000 for Barnoldswick and Earby cancer support charity Bosom Friends, and at the last count, the fifth Santa Fun Run has raised over £4,000 with more sponsorship still to come in.

The town square was a hive of Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve morning welcoming the Santas back from their fun run.

The first runner home was Jack Villiers from Barlick Fell Runners with Billy Haines, also from Barlick Fell Runners, hot on his heels.

The Santa run began with an outdoor warm up session at West Craven High School by Holly Lynch from Fitness Evolution in Burnley, before taking to the streets in a five kilometre route to the finish line at Barnoldswick's town square, where each runner received a commemorative medal and a mince pie.

Sharon Hurst, events manager for the Santa Fun Run, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to every one of the Santas who came and participated this year and also a big thank you to all the businesses who sponsored this event and to everyone who volunteered their time in the run up and on the day to help; without their amazing support this event would not be possible.

"Organising an event like this is hard work and takes months to prepare, especially when the initial date was postponed due to icy weather conditions, but when it all comes together like it did it makes every bit of it worthwhile especially for a local charity like Bosom Friends."

"If anyone still has any sponsorship money to collect please do so and hand it in as soon as possible at the Bosom Friends shop."