TWO hundred Santas braved the chill to join a festive fun run in aid of St Clare Hospice.

The charity’s fourth annual Santa Run took place at the Secret Nuclear Bunker, near Ongar, on Sunday.

Decked out in Father Christmas outfits – with a couple of snowmen and an elf also lining up – entrants were set on their way by Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles.

The event has so far raised £3,000 for the Hastingwood-based hospice and organisers expect the total to double as more sponsorship money rolls in.

The first adult Santa to cross the finishing line was Paul Bolton, who completed the 4km course in just under 21 minutes, with Olivia Curtis the first under-16 Santa to finish.

Event fundraiser Grace Clutton said: “This is our fourth year organising the Santa Run and our first at the Secret Nuclear Bunker, which offered a challenging course around their beautiful farmland.

"There was an incredible atmosphere as everyone was finishing and the crowd was cheering everyone on.

"A big thank you to all that took part. Every penny of sponsorship will make a big difference to the hospice. We can't wait for next year already.”