BUILDING society staff braved wintery weather to spread festive spirit by dressing as Santas for a fun run.

The eight-strong team from Darlington Building Society took part in the Santa Run, held at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, to raise funds for Butterwick Hospice.

Sponsorship pledges are still being collected, but the team hopes to raise several hundred pounds to help the hospice in its valuable work.

Along with other competitors, the team dressed in the full Santa outfit of red jacket and trousers with the all-important white beard to run 2.6 miles.

Viv Parsons, one of the Darlington Building Society team organisers said, "The weather turned out to be very appropriate for an event featuring Santa Claus, although due to the wintery conditions, it was more of a Santa stroll than a run.

"Darlington Building Society regularly provides support to the region's four main local hospices of which Butterwick is one.

"This Santa Run was yet another opportunity for us to raise some much-needed funds for the hospice and have some fun at the same time."