BRIERLEY Hill will be awash with Santas this weekend when the town stages its first-ever Santa Jog.

The event will take place on Saturday December 5 at The Dell Stadium as part of the Brierley Hill Xmas Festival.

People are invited to run, jog or walk in festive fancy dress and there'll be prizes for the best, funniest and most original outfits.

Organisers hope Brierley Hill schoolchildren, aged five to 11, will take part in a children's Santa Jog taking place within the Bryce Road stadium from 10.15am.

Runners (aged 12 and over) will be setting off at 11.30am from The Dell for a run along the canal before finishing up at the offices of Age UK Dudley at The Waterfront where refreshments will be available.

Entrants for the children's event and the adult Santa Jog must register at The Dell from 9.30am and there will be a pre-jog warm up before the events get underway.

Organiser Tim Lee said: "It's a first for Brierley Hill, and an important event in this year's festival calender.

"We're encouraging joggers to come along in Christmas dress, and everyone will get a free Santa hat.

"Everyone taking part will also receive a special event Santa medal and ribbon in Brierley Hill town colours.

"The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Steve Waltho, has agreed to join the jog – and we've got him a full Santa suit for the occasion.

"And there won't just be Santas there – joggers are turning up dressed as Christmas presents, elves, reindeer – you name it."

The event, sponsored by Dudley Building Society, will help give a boost to one of the Mayor's charities - Brierley Hill based More Mascots Please - which was founded by disability campaigner Ceri Davies to help improve the lives of disabled, disadvantaged and terminally ill children across the Black Country.

The children's event is free to enter and the 6K jog has a £5 entry fee (free for runners aged 12 to 13).

The Brierley Hill Xmas Festival will also include an adopt an angel event on Saturday December 5 - inviting people to keep their eyes peeled for angels dotted around the town. There will also be a Christmas craft fair at Brierley Hill Civic Hall from 1pm to 4pm.

Children can also meet Santa at the Bank Street venue or take part in a knitivity trail around Brierley Hill High Street - between 1pm and 4pm.

Later on - between 4.30pm and 5.30pm there'll be a singalong at the civic hall followed by a family party night from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets cost £1 per adult or child and will be available on the door.

On Sunday December 6 a tree of light service will be held at Brierley Hill Methodist Church from 6pm.

To find out more about the Santa Jog check out brierleyhill-santajog.info or email brierleyhillsantajog@fastmail.co.uk or take a look at https://xmasinbrierleyhill.wordpress.com/