ENTRIES are now open for the annual festive Chase the Pudding Race.

This year’s event will take place on Sunday, December 20 and is again in aid of the Will Mackaness Trust.

Proceedings get underway from the Pavilion end of Weymouth Beach with competitors then racing to the rocks at Greenhill and back to the start.

On arrival at the finish each competitor will be presented with their very own Christmas pudding.

The unique aspect of this event is that all entrants will be dressed as Santa Claus and will be chasing a pudding along the 5km course.

The winner of the race receives a cash prize.

Registration opens at 9.30am and a mass warm-up will commence at 10.45am.

The main event then starts at 11am.

The cost of taking part is £15 and that includes a Santa suit, or it is £10 entry without a suit.

Anyone under the age of 14 is invited to join in wearing fancy dress for an entry fee of £5.

On the day, Ed Hinzte will be playing Christmas songs to get everyone in the festive spirit.

While there will also be stalls selling jams, pickles, cards and crafts.

Online registration is open until Wednesday, December 9 but it will also be possible to enter on the day.

This event will be extremely special and a great spectacle, with all the money raised going directly to the trust itself.

The Will Mackaness Trust was set up in memory of former Wey Valley School head boy Will Mackaness.

Will was a big watersports enthusiast who had a particularly interest in windsurfing.

The trust aims to give young people in the Weymouth and Portland areas the opportunity to try watersports.

This may be delivered with funding to complete swimming lessons, the chance to gain sailing qualifications, or even try the sport of windsurfing.

For more information about the trust, contact info@willmackanesstrust.org.uk or to register go to willmackanesstrust.org.uk/christmas-pudding-race