Mankini wearer braves the cold for Newtown Santa Run

More than 100 Santas descended on a Mid Wales town this weekend to take part in the annual Santa Run - including one who braved the cold by donning a mankini.

Despite the Arctic weather, the 10th Santa Run saw the participants - who all have to dress in Santa suits - run or walk the four-and-a-half mile route through Newtown to raise money for charity.

The event was organised by Newtown Dial-A-Ride, which provides transport services in the area.

Newtown hosted the world's first ever Santa Run in 2001 and it has since become an annual fixture, with hundreds of similar events across the UK.

This year's run was started by the MP for Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies.

Mr Davies said weather conditions had been incredibly cold.

"More than 100 Santas braved the cold weather conditions to come an enjoy what is an annual tradition in Newtown. It was a great day," he said.

Councillor Russell George, from Newtown, who took part in the race, said: "It was very cold, but nice to run with snow on the ground. There were not as many Santas as in the past but the Santa Run happened here first."

Over the last decade, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, and even broke a world record when 3,445 Santas completed the fun run in 2004.