Santas hit city streets running

Thousands of Santas take part in the Great Scottish Santa Run

Thousands of runners dressed as Father Christmas have taken to the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh for the Santa Dash and Great Scottish Santa Run.

The charity events took place through Glasgow city centre and along the banks of the Clyde and around West Princes Street Gardens in the capital.

Funds raised, expected to exceed £30,000, will go to charities including When You Wish Upon a Star.

Among the Santas in Glasgow was Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Stars of the west end show Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat led the warm up in Edinburgh along with Lord Provost, The Rt Hon George Grubb, who was one of the many participants in the race.

The lord provost said: "Yet again, we have seen the town painted Santa-red.

Nicola Sturgeon said she was happy to have made it round the course

"The Great Scottish Santa Run is a wonderful sight and a very special opportunity for the people of Edinburgh to come together with families and friends to bring the spirit of Christmas alive.

"With more people taking part this year than ever before, we will have raised a lot of money for a great cause and helped the dreams of very poorly Scottish children come true."

In Glasgow, Ms Sturgeon said: "I feel great after that, it was hard work, this was my first 5k, but it's a great feeling of achievement.

"It was great fun, the atmosphere's brilliant, the streets were lined all the way round the route and it's all for charity.

"Some people were taking it a bit more seriously in terms of personal bests and things like that but I was just happy to get across the finishing line."