Runners take part in the annual Santa Dash in the center of Liverpool. Thousands of people dressed as Santa Claus took part in the English city of Liverpool's annual "Santa Dash" on December 3, setting a new world record in the process, organisers of the event said. To raise money for local charities, about 5,000 people dressed up in red suits, white beards and black boots and ran for five kilometres (3.1 miles) through the streets. The feat dwarfed last year's event which saw the northwestern city earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the most Santas in one place at one time with 3,921. Though more than 5,000 people filled in applications to enter the 2006 event, the exact number of runners along with the total amount raised was not to be confirmed. The event's website acknowledges that it will faces stiff competition for the world record from an event in Las Vegas later this month. Meanwhile, hundreds of Santas also dressed up to take part in similar charity runs in two Welsh cities, Newtown and Oswestry, attracting a total of just under 2,000 runners. 點擊查看更多雙語新聞 (AFP)

12月3日，一年一度的“圣誕老人街頭長跑”活動在英國的利物浦舉行。據活動主辦方介紹，數千名裝扮成圣誕老人的志愿者參加了長跑，參賽人數創下最新世界紀錄。 這項活動的主要目的是為慈善機構籌集資金。約5千名志愿者身穿紅色圣誕老人服、戴著白色大胡子、腳穿黑色靴子沿著街道跑了5公里的路程。 今年的參賽人數超過去年的3921人，刷新了“同一時間同一地點出現最多圣誕老人”的吉尼斯世界紀錄。 共有5千多名志愿者報名參加了今年的活動，但活動的實際參賽人數和所籌善款金額目前還沒有得到確認。 據活動的專題網站介紹，將于本月末在拉斯維加斯舉辦的一項慈善活動有實力挑戰此項剛被刷新的世界紀錄。 此外，數百名“圣誕老人”還參加了在威爾士的紐頓和奧斯維斯奇舉行的兩場類似的慈善長跑活動，總參賽人數不到2000名。 （英語點津姍姍編輯）