THOUSANDS of pounds worth of prizes are up for grabs for winners of a hugely anticipated Christmas Fun Run in Worcester.

Entries continue to mount up for the wacky Sunday, December 5 event, organised by Worcester City Football Club and Leukaemia CARE, in which every runner is called upon to wear a Father Christmas outfit while jogging along the 3.5 mile course.

The website set up to allow interested runners to download entry forms for the fun run - www.worcestercityfc.co.uk/christmasfunrun - has already received hundreds of hits in the first two weeks.

Nearly 500 participants completed the fun run last year and helped raise more than £18,000 which was shared between the organisers.

The Evening News is supporting the event to smash the world record for the most Father Christmases in a fun run, held by Newtown in Powys, Wales, where more than 3,000 people took part.

Olly Mackie, events and sponsorship manager at Leukaemia CARE, said the interest seems to be much higher than last year's effort.

He said: "This is not altogether surprising as many of those who took part last year want to do so again. Many others who decided not to enter last year, but to sit back and see if it really happened, having seen the success of last year's race, are now looking to sign up and take part."

Cannons Health Club has offered a one-year free membership for the first man and woman finishing first in the race, three months free membership to each of the four runners in the first team home, and a year's free membership to the person raising the most sponsorship.

Venture Photographic Studio in Worcester has offered a £160 voucher to the first family team home, while Runaround Sports, of Foregate Street, Worcester, has agreed to sponsor the runners' numbers.

As well as individuals, organisers are looking for four runners from local companies and organisations to run as a team, along with family teams of two adults and two children.

Suit

Entry is £10 which includes the cost of the Father Christmas suit. Full details of the race can be obtained by calling 0870 7743667.

Leukaemia CARE is a national charity that provides care and support to patients, their families and carers during the difficult journey through the diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia, lymphoma or an allied blood disorder.