THE festive season gets underway in Norton tomorrow.

Norton is to be the new venue for the annual Santa Fun Runs, organised by Ryedale Special Families, as part of the Christmas lights switch-on.

The event, from 1.30pm, will start and finish in front of the town council offices, and will see the temporary closure of the road between Wold Street and Mill Street.

There will be three age categories, starting at 2.30pm for ages four to eight; 3pm for ages nine to 13; and the main adult race at 3.30pm. There will also be children’s entertainments and the Christmas lights switch-on will take place shortly after the final fun run at 4.30pm. Councillor Ray King, Norton mayor, said: “We look forward to welcoming the Santa Fun Run to Norton and we are delighted to be able to integrate this with our annual Christmas lights switch-on. “Once again we are pleased to be working with and supporting local charities. We hope the local community will embrace the merger of these two events and enter into the spirit of the occasion.”

Rob Davies, organiser of the Santa Fun Run and funding co-ordinator for RSF, said: “We’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to make it happen, including the Smile Rooms, Yorkshire Building Society, The Handymag and Norton Town Council.”

Entry is £6 for children and £12 for adults, which include the provision of a full Santa costume, as well as a medal and certificate on completion. Entry forms are available from Norton Town Council offices in Commercial Street, from the Yorkshire Building Society branch in Wheelgate, or from Ryedale Special Families by phoning 01653 699000.