More than 1,100 people dressed as Santa Claus and ran along the seafront in a blur of red costumes to raise money for hospices across east Kent.

Starting at the Clock Tower on Sunday morning, entrants ran 3k and 5k routes that took them up to the Hampton Recreation Ground before they finished at the Bandstand

It is estimated the event, called Santas on the Run, raised more than £30,000 for Pilgrims Hospices.

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Organiser Lydia Todd said: “It was amazing; it was an absolute spectacle. We had one-year-olds in prams and people in their 80s.

“The money will be used to continue funding the care we provide.

“It will help our patients and their families have a really nice Christmas.

“Many of the people who took part had family or friends at our hospices.”

Last year, the event, which was the first to be held in Herne Bay, drew more than 800 people donning Santa costumes - 300 fewer than the run on Sunday.

“One of the main reasons for the increase in people taking part is word of mouth,” Ms Todd continued.

“People had such positive feedback from last year that they told their friends and family who then decided to take part in the run this time around.”

Ms Todd already has one eye on organising next year’s Santas on the Run! in Herne Bay.

She says it will again take place on the first Sunday of December.

“There will be another one in 2019,” she said. “We’re not totally sure about the route, but it will be in Herne Bay.”