A RECORD number of people turned out on Sunday morning to take part in the annual Santa fun run around Monmouth.

The event, organised by the Spirit of Monmouth Running Club, sets off from under the historic Monnow Bridge.

More than 340 Santas and other festive characters tackled the 2.1km (1.5 miles) course along Monnow Street, Hereford Road, Vauxhall Fields and back to the bridge.

The run was held in aid of Home Start Monmouthshire which supports struggling families with at least one child younger than five.

The charity had two teams from its office at the Bridges Centre in Monmouth.

Rowan Saxton of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Boys was the first young male home and the first young female was Maddie Taylor of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls.

The first man home was Robert John of Fairwater Runners in Cwmbran and clubmate Angela Jones was the first woman.

The first team was brothers Harri and Jamie Bell-Thomas and the family champions were the Nashes, Helen, Stuart, Imogen, Oscar and Isla.

The best dressed runners were 13-year-old Anna Crossley, who painted a nativity scene on her face, with sister Erin, aged eight and dad Pete.

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