Santas in to deliver

brings people together and it’s great fun.”

Amanda Beirne and her sevenyear-old daughter Molly, from Salendine Nook, were sprinting to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

She said: “It’s a good cause and we all know someone affected by cancer.

“This is our first time taking part and we thought it would be a fun thing to do on a Sunday morning, a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.”

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney has taken part in every Santa Dash since the event started in the town six years ago.

The keen runner, who has previously taken part in the Great North Run and the London Marathon, took part with his 10-year-old daughter Ellie.

He said: “Every year I run for the Joseph Salmon Trust, it’s a great local charity helping bereaved families and I used to work with Neil Salmon at Yorkshire TV.

“The wonderful thing about this is it gets together people of all abilities, from professional runners to people just trotting around, to raise money for local charities.

“It’s such a well-organised event and you know it’s the start of Christmas when the Santa Dash is on in Huddersfield!”

Lions club member Graham Isley said: “It’s a real spectacle and this year we’ve been very lucky with the weather. Last year it rained and the year before we had snow.

“It’s brilliant for smaller charities because it doesn’t cost them anything and we organise it.”