A HOMELESS charity is taking a festive approach to raising the cash it needs to buy a second home to house people.

Hope House Essex is expecting 200 runners to take part in its Santa Run which will take place at Great Notley Country Park.

Hundreds of Santas will don their red suits and take on the five-kilometre course

The Braintree charity currently has a five-bedroom house in Manor Street, which it bought in 2016, to house people temporarily to help them get back on their feet.

It says the amount of people who need help far outweighs the space they have at the house which is why its's hoping to open a second base.

Tony Britten, a trustee of Hope House, said: "We have many more applications to stay at the house than we have the room to accommodate.

"So you have this heart breaking situation of having to turn people away, which is why we are so keen to get ourselves in a position to purchase a second house.

"We help people find work, register with doctors, claim any benefits they are entitled to and ultimately find more permanent accommodation.

"We are staffed mainly by volunteers who support our residents through any issues they may be having when they arrive, and we then continue to support them after they leave, aiming to ensure that the cycle of homelessness is broken permanently."

According to the charity, rough-sleeping in the county has increased by 44 percent in the past year.

The run, which will be staffed by volunteers, will take place on December 16 and it's hoped it can become an annual event if it proves to be successful.

The run itself will begin at 1pm, with registration opening at noon. Tickets for adults cost £12 and tickets for under 18s cost £5 and include a suit.

They must be bought in advance at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/santa-5k-fun-run-hope-house-essex-tickets-47058873357.