Santa Fun Runs have become a popular annual Christmas event around Suffolk and north Essex, as our gallery shows.

Hundreds of people of all ages eagerly don the familiar red Father Christmas costumes and long white beards to raise money for good causes.

East Anglian Daily Times: The first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH taking place in Colchester's Castle Park in 2007The first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH taking place in Colchester's Castle Park in 2007 (Image: Archant)

Sadly, like so many other fundraising events, this year's Santa Runs have had to go virtual - but today we are looking back to events which took part in 2007, in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ho-Ho-Go as the Santa Run took place in Christchurch Park, Ipswich in 2007Ho-Ho-Go as the Santa Run took place in Christchurch Park, Ipswich in 2007 (Image: Archant)

Instead of relying on reindeer power, crowds of Santas ran around Christchurch Park in Ipswich, the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and Castle Park in Colchester.

East Anglian Daily Times: A Santa Fun Run in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds in aid of EACH ( East Anglia's Children Hospices) in 2007. EastEnders star Joe Swash gets the race going (front middle)A Santa Fun Run in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds in aid of EACH ( East Anglia's Children Hospices) in 2007. EastEnders star Joe Swash gets the race going (front middle) (Image: Archant)

A famous face taking part in that year's Bury St Edmunds event was former EastEnders star Joe Swash, who played Mickey Miller in the series.

East Anglian Daily Times: Taking part in the Santa Run in Christchurch Park, Ipswich in 2007Taking part in the Santa Run in Christchurch Park, Ipswich in 2007 (Image: Archant)

If these photos bring back memories, email judy.rimmer@archant.co.uk

To order photos, visit our website or call Diane Townsend on 01603 772449.

East Anglian Daily Times: A Santa Fun Run in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices in 2007A Santa Fun Run in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices in 2007 (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH taking place in Colchester's Castle Park in December 2007The first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH taking place in Colchester's Castle Park in December 2007 (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Colchester's Castle Park was the setting for the first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH in 2007Colchester's Castle Park was the setting for the first Great North Essex Santa Run fundraising event for EACH in 2007 (Image: Archant)