MORE than 4,700 children from 24 schools, pre-schools and nurseries took part in Phyllis Tuckwell’s Reindeer and Elf Runs last month.

The fundraising events in December raised more than £41,000 to help fund the hospice care which the charity provides for the local community.

St Ives School for girls and St Edmund’s School, in Hindhead, took part along with pupils from schools across West Surrey and North East Hampshire, including Farnham, Farnborough, Fleet, Yateley and Guildford and surrounding villages.

Teachers donned Santa suits while their pupils put on either reindeer antlers and flashing red noses, or elf hats with pointy ears, before they all took to their playgrounds or playing fields, running laps in their festive outfits.

Phyllis Tuckwell’s community fundraising manger at the Farnham--based hospice said: “We would like the thank everyone who took part in 2015’s Reindeer and Elf Runs.

“Together they helped us raise over £41,000, beating last year’s total and bringing our total over the five years that we have held these runs to over £150,000”

To find out more about Phyllis Tuckwell and the support it provides, or find out about raising money to help fund its care, visit www.pth.org.uk