CHRISTMAS may be more than a month away but Hampshire is about to go Father Christmas crazy.

The county will be awash of red suits and white beards when hundreds take to streets in more Santa runs than the area has seen before.

Merry men, women and children will be able to get suited and booted and prance, dance and dash around in aid of numerous good claus’.

Four events will take place between November 27 and December 4 in Southampton, New Milton, Winchester and in Lymington.

The first will be on Sunday, November 27 in Southampton in aid of Naomi House and Jacksplace.

It was organised after more than 700 places available at the Winchester Santa Fun Run on December 4 were filled.

Organisers arranged the second dash to meet the demand for would-be-Santas wanting to take part in the festive run for the charity, which hopes to raise £40,000 from the events.

The 4km Southampton Santa Fun Run, which will go through the city centre’s parks and streets. Check in is at 8.15am at the Solent University’s Spark building before a warm up at 9.20am ready for the run at 9.30am.

The registration fee, which includes a Santa suit, is £16 for adults and £12 for children. Runners need a minimum sponsorship of £50.

Keith Wilson, the charity’s marketing manager, said: “The event has become a key part of Winchester’s Christmas celebrations and we hope to be able to do the same for Southampton.”

A sea of red will also be descending on New Milton recreation ground on Saturday, December 3 in aid of Pilgrim Bandits Charity. Adults tickets, for the first ever Santa Family Fun Run in the area, are and £10 for those aged from 12 to 16-years-old - this includes a suit.

Andre Edwards, of Pilgrim Bandits, said: “This is a short fun race for the whole family and a great way to kick off Christmas... We look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Runners have also been invited to run for a good cause a in the 3km dash the following day on Southampton Common.

Last year more than 150 Santas ran, jogged and walked the Santa Fun Run in aid of Hampshire-based charity Brendoncare Foundation.

The money raised from the event will go towards helping older people across Hampshire through a network of social clubs designed to bring fun and friendship into the lives of people, who may otherwise be lonely.

Registration is from 9.30am and the run starts at 11am. All entrants will receive a free Santa suit, or hat and top for under 16 year olds, and a medal on completion of the run.

Residents have also been invited to leave their sleigh at home and run, hop, skip and jump around Lymington on Sunday, December 4.

The Oakhaven Hospice fundraiser will start at Lymington High Street at 11.30am - registration will be open from 9.30am.

All the money from the run will go towards helping fund the cause’s specialist services to continue across the community.