CHRISTMAS spirit was alive and well as Ellesmere Port Running Club helped Liverpool break its own record for the world’s biggest Santa Dash.

Alison MacDonald, Brian Griffiths, Jon Hawker and Mike Burns discarded their usual club tangerine running shirts for the more festive red and white Santa outfit and made the trip to Merseyside for the 5km charity race.

Despite heavy rain early on the weather cleared and Liverpool broke the record of 3,921 it set last year, getting around 6,000 runners.

Later in the day, however, the record was beaten by Las Vegas, who assembled 7,123 Santas to wrench the record from Britain for the first time in three years.

With national as well as regional pride now at stake, all four EPRC runners have declared they will return next year and bring more runners with them to help regain the title.

EPRC train at Whitby Sports and Social Club on Tuesdays and Fridays, meeting at 6.45pm to begin running at 7pm. Runners of all abilities are welcome. For further information webmaster@ellesmereportrunningclub.org.uk