Self-styled Santas, sign up to lurch and lumber through Marlow

Bookings are open for the Marlow Santa's Fun Run on December 7 – beginning in Higginson Park.

Three thousand Santas will take to the streets in Marlow for a 5km challenge that can be run or walked. However, flying the route in a sleigh is not encouraged.

An event that started 21 years ago by the Marlow Rotary Clubs with a handful of runners has grown to its maximum size.

Businesses in particular may choose to use the event to raise funds for their own in-house charity, and last year individual company awards topped £4,000 each.

The website for entries is now open through www.santasfunrun.org and the cost is £20 if booked before November 19. Costumes are provided at no extra cost.

Santa's Fun Run is well on its way to raising a record £100,000 for charity.

The lead charities to benefit are Scannappeal (focussing on new breast screening equipment in the Marlow area) and the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, focussing on their Together Against Poverty appeal.

Organisers will also allow groups raising more than £50 to share in the £15,000 charity