People from across Southampton put on their best Saint Nicholas costumes for this year’s Santa Run.

The annual festive run aims to fundraise for Fifth Testwood Scouts in Totton and saw hundreds of people take part on Sunday.

For those not keen on the 2.5km or the 5km route, they could still contribute by shopping at the Christmas fair at the Empire Hall in Totton.

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Inside they could grab themselves a sausage and bacon roll, stroll by the sales stalls or just enjoy the Christmas carols by the choir.

Daily Echo: Tom Coward, 29, from Romsey, came first on the 5kTom Coward, 29, from Romsey, came first on the 5k (Image: Newsquest)

Tom Coward, 29, from Romsey, came first on the 5k.

He said: “It was a good day, I came first and I don’t usually run 5ks on the road so that was a first time. But it was a great atmosphere for people to come together.

“A friend of mine wanted me to do it and convinced me to get involved and I wanted to be there to help him I suppose. It raises money for a good cause and it’s a good time of the year.”

Daily Echo: Megan James, 25 from Woolston ran with her dad Steve Cooper, 62Megan James, 25 from Woolston ran with her dad Steve Cooper, 62 (Image: Newsquest)

Meanwhile, Megan James, 25, from Woolston ran with her dad Steve Cooper, 62.

Talking to the Echo, Megan, who has done 41 park runs, said: “It’s been a great time. All the volunteers have been cheering us on and people were coming out of their houses and banging on saucepans as we ran past.

“We are very tired, but we do it for the Scouts.

“I do a bit of running here and there but this was a special ‘Let’s go for it, dress up as Santa’ type of run.”

She added: “All the roads were closed off, I felt like a celeb.”

Scott Burns, 37, from Sholing ran with friends from Tottonians Rugby Club.

He said: “It’s a really good community event. All 25 of us ran together and it was so good to see the 25 suits running together.

"When we arrived, there was a sea of green and red because we were wearing our rugby shirts over it.

"It was the first time I did it but I will definitely do it again, although I am not usually a runner."

Event organiser Sarah Challis, 45, said: “At the moment, it looks like it has been a success.

“The most we have had is 350 runners but that was pre-Covid so we’re still climbing back.”