Santas, Snowmen and Christmas Elves braved the cold to race through Hinckley on Sunday (3 December) for the annual Festive Family Fun Run.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Hinckley BID once again joined forces to host the popular event, which started in the town’s Market Place with a warm-up from the resident ‘Healthy Elf’.

Entrants were encouraged to don their best festive costumes or Christmas jumpers for the run/walk/amble around the town centre route, with many pausing to enjoy the ‘sweet stop’ at the end of the route. Well-behaved dogs on leads were also welcome to enjoy the festive fun.

Town Centre vouchers were up for grabs, with the winners as follows:

£25 awarded to the Best Festive Costume (junior runner-up): Josie aged five from Hinckley and her Christmas tree dress

£25 awarded to the Best Festive Costume (senior runner-up): Scigne, David, James & Oliver with their Santa & Snowman boxes

£50 awarded to the Best Festive Costume (winner): Wren Lester Moore Reindeers from Hinckley

£50 awarded to the Best Family Group festive costumes (winner): Hannon Family with Santa’s Sleigh from Barwell

Councillor Mark Bools, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at the Borough Council, said: “This is always a really popular event with families, and it was great to see so many residents turn up in festive costumes once again to race through the town centre. Thank you to everyone for braving the cold and turning out, and to Hinckley BID for once again partnering with us for this annual event.”

Steve Wegerif, from Hinckley BID, added: “It is always heartening to see so many families getting involved in our annual Hinckley BID events. Some of the Fun Run yuletide costumes must have taken many hours to design and construct - everyone made a huge effort and clearly everyone was enjoying themselves. It is great to see an event where all ages and of all abilities, were able to join in and go home sporting a medal.

“Our thanks also to the Mayor and Mayoress, who came along on a very cold and frosty morning to judge and present the prizes.”