Ho Ho Ho reverberated around Verulamium Park in St Albans on Sunday morning as the first-ever Grove House Jingle Bell Jog got underway. Hundreds of participants from toddlers in pushchairs to keen runners donned Santa suits and reindeer ears to take part

Ho Ho Ho reverberated around Verulamium Park in St Albans on Sunday morning as the first-ever Grove House Jingle Bell Jog got underway.

Hundreds of participants from toddlers in pushchairs to keen runners donned Santa suits and reindeer ears to take part in the event.

The sun came out at the start of the race and several hundred Santas went on the run, some burning off more mince pies than others as they ran a longer route which took them through the town centre.

Sarah Jane Honeywell, star of the Alban Arena pantomime The Little Mermaid, got the Jingle Bell Jog underway. Thanks to a lift from her own pirate, she did not have to cross the muddier parts of the park and was carried across the wetter patches.

One youngster enjoyed himself so much that he made his dad run round the lake five times. Max aged seven said: "I really enjoyed seeing Sarah Jane. I really wanted to run the 10K so I kept making my Dad run as many times as we could. I am hoping to raise �125 for Grove House."

Paul Parrish, fundraising director for Grove House, the St Albans day hospice, said: "We were delighted to see so many local people coming along to support our first-ever Jingle Bell Jog. Seeing everyone dressed up as Santa was a wonderful sight.

"We hope as well as having a fun morning the Santas will have raised much-needed funds for the hospice. Grove House needs to raise �1.5 million each year to keep services running."

It is too early to say how much money the first Jingle Bell Jog has raised for the hospice but as an incentive, there are prizes on offer for the people who raised the most money in sponsorship including a family ticket and a backstage pass to The Little Mermaid.