Scores of Santas put their best foot forward for charity by running through a north-east town yesterday.
Although they weren’t followed by Donner, Prancer or Blitzen, the 100 festively-dressed Father Christmases painted Inverurie red yesterday morning raising funds for the Inverurie Events charitable trust.
And even the elves got to take part- with a children’s race drawing around 35 red hatted youngsters earlier in the day.
Participants didn’t have to go shopping as having paid their entry fees they were given the Santa outfit to take part.
The event was part of the town’s Discover Christmas – Inverurie celebrations with an ice rink also featured in the town centre.
A Christmas market was earlier held on Station Road, with a variety of stalls offering crafts and other festive treats.
The race – sponsored by Scotframe and Laings – involved a 5km adult Santa run for people aged 13 and over as well as a 2km elf run for children aged between five and 12.
Derek Ritchie, the manager of Inverurie events, said the money raised would be ploughed back into bringing more events in the north-east town once it had been counted.
He said: “It is really becoming something people look forward to every year along with our other Christmas attractions.
“We have had about 100 taking part in the adult race through the town and about 35 in the kids race, all dressed as Santa.
“Hopefully we can keep putting on these events and keep drawing people to Inverurie and all the great businesses we have here.”
He added that the bright sunshine had given this year’s event an extra sparkle.
Mr Ritchie said: “We were a lot luckier with the weather this year, last year there was a lot of ice underfoot which made it pretty slippery.
“This year there was nice weather, there was plenty of sunshine and everyone was in a good mood.
“There were even some complaining about being too hot in their suits.”
In Aberdeen, Santas took to the streets for the third consecutive year at the Aberdeen Sports Village, raising money for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (Chas).
Last year 353 people completed the one-mile dash and 5k race, raising more than £1,500 for the children’s hospice service.
