Come on! Dress up as Santa and chase the Christmas Pudding on Weymouth beach

Weymouth’s quirky Chase the Christmas Pudding 5km Santa Dash on Sunday will once again raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

It is one of the biggest events of the season and last year it raised around £7,000 for the national charity.

Giant red festive baubles will help mark out the route as Santas and runners dressed in various Christmas incarnations dash down the beach to Greenhill and back in pursuit of the pudding.

A mystery athlete from Weymouth-based event organisers Bustinskin will dress up as the tasty pud.

Mark Steen, director of Bustinskin, said he hopes as many people as possible enter.

“We’re hoping to get more people than the number that turned up last year, we’re hoping to get at least 200 or 300 dressed up.

“The pudding gets a 500 metre head start and once the horn goes off the Santas will try and chase it down.

“Last year we had to start the pudding back as he was running so fast – I don’t think the guy got the script that the pudding has to be caught!” There is still time for people of any running ability to enter the event and they can do so online by Wednesday or on the day itself.

Registration on the day is at the Weymouth Pavilion end of the beach from 9.30am, the warm-up begins on the beach at 10.45am and the race begins at 11am.

The speediest Santa who hunts down the pudding will receive a cash prize.

Mr Steen said the event is a day out for the whole family.

“It’s an event for the whole family it’s not just for elite runners.

“We also want as may people as possible to come and support the event.”

Participants can wear their own Santa or festive suit or can wear a Santa suit supplied on registration.

Registration is £15 for adults, including a Santa suit and a Christmas pudding, or £10 without.

It costs £5 for under 14s to register and they are asked to come along in fancy dress. Register at bhf.org.uk People can set up an online sponsorship page at justgiving.com/bhf