Despite heavy rain, more than 300 people, dressed in festive costumes, kept the Christmas spirit alive in Falmouth on Saturday as they gathered for the annual Santa Fun Run.

After the success of the Santa versus Rudolph run last year, this year entrants were given the choice of being Santas or elves and between them their efforts raised £6,562 for Cornwall Hospice Care.

Dressed in costume, the runners ignored the miserable winter weather and after a lively warm up session with Kat Allen, they set off to run either a short or long course around the town.

Clare Bray, from the charity, said: "Falmouth always comes up trumps for this fun run and it feels like the whole family gets involved. We had children, parents, and even grandparents taking part and of course several dogs in costume. The atmosphere was lovely and very positive even though the rain was extremely heavy. I’m full of admiration for them all.”

One Santa was Falmouth resident Keith Ferris, who at 79 has been taking part in the fun run for six years. He said: "I don’t run like the others, but I like to take part and raise some money as the team at Cornwall Hospice Care’s St Julia’s Hospice in Hayle looked after my wife dear Margaret before she died and I can never thank them enough for what they did. Margaret felt safe when she was there and we as a family were really cared for too.”

Sam Pleasants, the ward sister at St Julia’s Hospice, said: "We’re always very touched by those who go the extra mile to help raise funds for us. It costs £27 an hour to provide our intensive care for an in-patient and that’s care we provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including over Christmas and New Year. Thank you to all those very wet Santas and Elves in Falmouth, you really have helped to make a difference to our patients and their families.”

An event like the Santa Fun Run in Falmouth only happens thanks to many little helpers as Clare Bray explained: “I must say a huge thank you to all our volunteer marshals, the Police Cadets, BBC Radio Cornwall’s Julie Skentelbery who started the run, Falmouth Town Council, the Devon and Cornwall 4x4 Response Team, Lifestar Medical, Falmouth Methodist Church, the Co-Op for the mince pies, and Falmouth Running Club. It’s only thanks to all these folk that we enjoy the success that we do.”

The next and final event in the Cornwall Hospice Care Santa Series is at Helston on Saturday. To register go to cornwallhospicecare.co.uk.