SANTAS, elves and even Christmas presents dashed from the starting line at a festive fun run organisers hope will become an annual event.

About 85 runners donned costumes to take part in the new four-mile fancy dress trail run, held in Horwich.

Santa Dash organiser Stewart Jones said there had been a “brilliant atmosphere” at the event, which started and finished from Curley’s Dining Rooms and Fisheries.

Mr Jones said: “Our first Santa Dash went really well - we got great feedback and everyone was dressed up and having a good time.

“We are really hoping it will become an annual event with more people taking part each year.

“Lots of people commented on the atmosphere, which from start to finish was absolutely brilliant.

“It was our first time trialling a new results scoring system which worked well.”

Mr Jones is an ex-physical training instructor who has worked in the army and recently retired from the police force.

The 56-year-old, of Fernhead Avenue, Horwich, set up Mad Bull Events last year and is planning about 12 races – including several in Bolton – for 2015.

Winner of a Garmin watch for the best fancy dress costume was 45-year-old Glyn Williams, from the Salford Harriers, who tackled the course’s twists and turnstiles as a wrapped present.

Chris Farrell from the Horwich RMI Harriers was the overall men’s winner with a time of 23 minutes and 37 seconds.

Overall women’s winner was teenager Sophie Whittaker, from Bury Athletics Club, who scored a time of 30 minutes 11 seconds.

Among the events planned for next year is a Man vs Train race following the steam engine train line from Bury to Rawtenstall, which will take place on June 28.

Mad Bull Events' first race, held earlier this year, was enjoyed by 300 people running through the Yarrow Valley in Chorley.