LYME Regis certainly got into the Christmas spirit as contestants donned silly outfits to take part in a pudding-themed race for charity.

The Christmas Pudding Race was held on the seafront on Saturday to raise funds for the Lyme Regis branch of the Cancer Research UK charity, with organisers announcing they raised around £2,000 on the day of the race and are confident of raising another £2,000 towards the total.

The event was officially opened by BBC Radio Devon DJ Judi Spiers and children’s television character Gus Honeybun at 11am, before everyone took part in the Zumba warm-up, led by Nicky Sweetland, before the race started at 1pm.

The award for the best-dressed team was given to Brenda’s Crackers and for the second year running, the winning team came from Boylos Watersports and consisted of Jake Patrick, Ellie Boyle, Sara Benson, Matt Caton, Jake Sargent and Yvonne, who joined the team at the last minute following an absence from the team, and her team not showing up.

Mr Patrick said: “We were all a little surprised when we won because we were the last team round after the first lap.

“We were lucky really because we had an ace up our sleeve in Jake Sargent, because he is only 14 years old and is wickedly quick and allowed us to jump up a few spaces.

“We only had one fault so won by two seconds in the end, but the whole course was a great laugh.

The massive slide was definitely the best part and the worst part was definitely the singing.

“But it was a great day and everyone got involved and you looked a bit silly if you didn’t get involved and we will definitely be entering again next year because we want to get the hat-trick.”

The course started by getting a pudding and a sack and running down the Cart Road, as contestants raced to “build” a Christmas pudding.

Competitors ran through an inflatable obstacle course, and had to complete such tasks as wrapping a Christmas present, running up inflatable steps before sliding down a giant slide, decorate a Christmas tree and sing two verses of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.

They also had to try and throw oranges, presents and five gold rings through a set of cylinders and throw snowballs at a snowman before tearing across the finish line.