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Santa Dash and Christmas parade draw huge crowds

News imageMick Hall Rows of women in red santa suits and green elf suits sing and play traditional drums with their drumsticks. Old buildings rise up behind.Mick Hall
A festive band drummed up support for the Liverpool run

Thousands of people have taken part in the annual Santa Dash events in north-west England.

More than 11,000 turned out for the Liverpool run, while a record 2,200 raised £60,000 for Brian House Children's Hospice on Blackpool's seafront.

Rebecca Ferguson, who works for the hospice in the resort, said: "It was just a wonderful atmosphere out there today despite the weather - everyone having fun crossing that finishing line with a big smile on their face and getting their well-earned medal."

Large crowds also watched dancers and musicians perform at Manchester's Christmas Parade.

News imageStratus Imagery Aerial drone view of thousands of participants in red Santa suits on the Liverpool Pier Head with the Three Graces buildings and city skyline behind. They form a rectangular shape around a canal lock near the Mersey waterfront.Stratus Imagery
Liverpool's event is said to be the largest festive 5k fun run in the UK
News imageMick Hall A man runs in a blue Santa suit on a tarmac road, with crowds watching from pavement and taking pictures. Old buildings are on both sides.Mick Hall
Everton fans have the option of running in a blue suit
News imageManchester City Council A man and woman in full-body green suits drag a large prop of a multi-tiered gingerbread house. Children in the background wave red and white sticks and placards of gingerbread drawings. Spectators line the street on both sides.Manchester City Council
Thousands of people turned up to watch the annual Christmas parade through Manchester city centre
News imageManchester City Council A woman in a red top and blue skirt grins as she dances and leads a group of other women in white, red and blue outfits at the parade. Spectators line the street, watching and taking pictures.Manchester City Council
More than 400 people performed in the event
News imageBlackpool Santa Dash A woman in Christmas tree-rimmed glasses holds a white dog in a red Santa suit as she joins hundreds of people dressed up in red Santa suits and hats, walking under the finish line banner, which has the Brian House Children's Hospice logo on it. Part of the Big One rollercoaster can be seen in the background.Blackpool Santa Dash
The Blackpool event attracted a record number of participants

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