PICTURES: Hundreds take part in Santa Run through streets of Plymouth

YOU know it's close to Christmas when you see the trees go up, the shoppers get busy – and hundreds of Santa impersonators pegging it through the city centre.

The third annual Santa Fun Run, in aid of three deserving charities, saw around 700 people of all ages, shapes and sizes don red suits, beards and sacks to tackle the four kilometre course.

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Organiser Roger Punch said it was "fantastic" to see the joyous parade of red and white in the heart of Plymouth on Sunday, all with the aim of helping the three charities chosen this year – DiabetesUK, Dame Hannah Rogers School and CHICKS which provides country holidays for inner city children.

He said: "It was a full crowd and we had a lot of spectators and it certainly brightened up the city centre on what was fortunately a dry day.

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"There were Santas of all ages and even a couple of Santa dogs. We had Santas in wheelchairs, Santas in buggies, Santa toddlers right up to Santas in their 80s."

The main route is approximately four kilometres long and started at the top of Cornwall Street, between Drake Circus Shopping Centre and the Central Hall. The route then followed a circular course through Cornwall Street, New George Street, Armada Way, through Drake Circus and finished in Frankfurt Gate.

There was also a mini route that was around 2.5km long for entrants aged six to 11 years old or as a shorter route for adults.

Completion medals were given to all the Santas who took part.

Mr Punch said: "Some walked round the course, some jogged, but they all got round.

"It was seasonally uplifting event and we should raise a very significant amount for the three charities."