Weymouth's annual Chase the Pudding event returns on Sunday, December 15.

Celebrate the festive season with this fun, family-friendly event, where hundreds of runners chase the Christmas Pudding along a 5km beachfront route.

Chase the Elf is a 2km run to the pier and back, open to under-14s.

The event is held in support of the Will Mackaness Trust, a Weymouth-based organisation set up in memory of Will who died from a brain tumour in 2008. The charity aims to give youngsters of Weymouth and Portland the opportunity to experience watersports, including windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

2019 will be the first year to feature a female pudding. The role will be assumed by Charlie Scott, the winner of last year's race and a close friend of Will's when they were at school.

Pam Govier, from the Will Mackaness Trust, said: "Given Charlie's friendship with Will, it seems like fate that she will be the first female pudding we've ever had. Over the years we've seen more and more people coming to support the event from the beach, which creates such a brilliant atmosphere. We're hoping to raise as much as possible to get more young people out on the water."

The money will go towards running swimming lessons for pupils in Weymouth and Portland, as well as providing opportunities for more extreme and varied watersports. Over the years, the trust has funded numerous lessons in windsurfing and paddleboarding, as well as courses guiding pupils through the RYA stages.

Sponsorship has also been offered to disadvantaged pupils to take part in the Tall Ships Challenge and an expedition to Alaska.

Registration for Chase the Pudding will be held in the Ocean Room of Weymouth Pavilion from 9.30am on the day, or runners can register in advance online. A photobooth will be available to participants and musical entertainment will be provided by Ed Hintze.

The warm-up takes place at 10.45am before the main race begins at 11am and Chase the Elf starts five minutes later.

For more information and to enter, head to www.willmackanesstrust.org.uk/chase-the-pudding. Entry for adults is £15, including a Santa suit, £5 for under-16s and £3 for under-14s.