A SEA of Santas flooded Colchester’s Castle Park to raise thousands of pounds to help cancer patients.

Around 600 festive fundraisers ditched sleighs to run around either a 3km or 5km course on Sunday, to raise cash for the Colchester Hospitals Charity.

Their cracking Christmas efforts generated about £20,000.

The money will be put towards buying extra equipment and amenities for staff, patients and their families at the new radiotherapy unit, which will open at Colchester General Hospital next year.

Caroline Bates, the charity’s fundraising manager, said: “Everyone had a lovely time and enjoyed it.

We are thrilled with how it went.”

It was the fourth year running the event has taken place.