WITH Christmas just a fortnight away, hundreds of people took to the streets of Winsley over the weekend to take part in Dorothy House’s annual Santa Dash.

More than 100 Santas from all over the region took time off from their seasonal duties to show their heels at Sunday’s 6km fundraiser, which is now in its fourth year.

Before setting off, the runners took part in a warm up put on by staff from Castle Place Leisure in Trowbridge.

Event fundraiser Emily Knight said: “It was a great day. I never imagined Santas could be so fit and some were alarmingly fast. It was lovely to see so many elves out in force. The whole atmosphere was brilliant and of course, it was all for a good cause.”

A new addition for this year’s dash was the Festive Family Frolic during which more than 70 children and parents dressed as elves, reindeer and other festive characters and completed a gentler 2km trail through the Dorothy House grounds.

With snow stations to run or walk through, organisers said everyone had a fantastic time, with all efforts being rewarded with Father Christmas gingerbread biscuits and a hot chocolate.

Runners were also kitted out in Santa trousers, jacket, belt, hat and beard.

Emma Martin from Corsham took part in the Festive Family Frolick with her two-year-old daughter said: “Sunday was such a lush day and I’m definitely up for doing it again next year because there was such a great atmosphere and the pictures really capture how fun it was.”

With both events, the hospice hopes to raise more than £10,000 to support patients, families and carers across their 700sqm area covering Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset.