A RECORD number of runners turned out for Stainland Lions’ annual Boxing Day Fun Run.

Two-hundred-and-fifty-eight runners – many of them in fancy dress – started from the 1885 pub, formerly the Red Lion, on the hilly five-kilometre run.

Click on the link below to open a picture gallery from the event

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First back was Halifax Harrier Joe Crossfield, in an excellent time of 16 minutes 10 seconds.

And the first woman to cross the finishing line was Amy Greenhalgh in 18mins 45s.

In the under 14 boys section Watson Peel won in 18mins 27s while Isabel Castelow took the line in 21mins 26s.

It was the 26th year of the event, and raised £1,500 for Forget-me-Not and Martin House children’s hospices.

According to the Lions, the run was an ideal way to have a good time, run off the excesses of the previous day’s feasting and help charities in the season of giving.

Entry was limited, as ever, to everybody – the serious and not so serious, the runners, the joggers and the strollers, young and old, the pushchair pushers and the dog walkers.

All finishers received a medal.

Fancy dress has become more popular and more outrageous each year, with a special prize given for the best costume.

This year was no exception with plenty of Father and Mother Christmases, pyjama parties and even a stray reindeer.

Following the race there was a charity auction in the pub, with prizes ranging from hair dressing vouchers to a treadmill.

Up to this year more than £40,000 has been raised from this race for good causes.

John Bassinder who helps organise the event said: “We are delighted with the response of the public – we have had plenty of runners from Halifax of course, quite a few from Huddersfield and some from Meltham and Pontefract and it was good to see them.

“Some runners were a bit apprehensive at first but by the time they were closing in on the finishing line they had a smile of satisfaction on their faces and a feeling of achievement.

“This is the first time we have used the 1885 pub for registering runners and we are very grateful to them for that facility. It’s been a very successful day and everyone appears to have enjoyed it.”