Hundreds of Santas will fill Colchester’s Castle Park with festive cheer as they run to raise money for a new cancer centre.

At least 500 costumed runners are due to take part in the Santa Fun Run on Sunday as part of a Colchester Hospitals Charity campaign, supported by the Gazette, to raise £4.5million for a new cancer centre at Colchester General Hospital.

The Santas will take part in an energetic warm up before the run kicks off at 10am.

Runners braving the 3km and 5km routes on the day will include members of the Essex Blades Lacrosse Team, runners from the St Helena School and Colchester Academy, staff from the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.