Leek residents have been encouraged to take part in a race this weekend that is sure to be a Christmas Cracker.

The Christmas Cracker race is hosted by Staffordshire Moorlands AC and the date is set for Sunday 19 December 2021 with a start time of 11am.

The race is approximately 8 miles long and takes in some breath-taking scenery around Tittesworth Reservoir.

Around 40% is run on country lanes with the rest being through fields and on tracks including a section along the exposed Roaches gritstone ridge some 1500 feet above sea level!

Whilst this is a race, which does attract some excellent runners, the emphasis is on fun and fancy dress outfits are encouraged, even if this is a Santa hat, tinsel halo or sprig of mistletoe!

There are prizes including fancy dress and every finisher receives either a pair of special edition socks or locally bottled beer.

To be fair to the volunteers, marshalling and recording results, potential entrants have been asked to ensure that they can finish comfortably within one hour and fifty minutes. Regrettably, dogs are not permitted to accompany runners on the course.

In the unlikely event that the organisers deem it to be too dangerous to run over the Roaches, due to ice or heavy snow on race day, an alternative shorter course will be operated around the scenic Tittesworth Reservoir.

If you would like to enter or find out more then find all the details on the Staffordshire Moorlands AC website by clicking here.