Liverpool road closures confirmed as thousands expected in city

Traffic on The Strand (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

Thousands of Santas are expected to take over Liverpool this weekend as the annual BTR Santa Dash returns. The festive 5k fun run is taking place on Sunday, December 7, with 9,000 people having signed up to take part.

The Christmas tradition began in 2004, thanks to race director Alan Rothwell and has only grown since - last year's dash drew in 8,556 red, blue, and mini Santas . This was the largest number of entries for a decade.

Kicking off at the Pier Head at 9.30am, the course takes runners through the Royal Albert Dock and onwards into the heart of the city. Making a finish outside the Town Hall, Santas will be greeted by a spectacle complete with characters on stilts and "real" snow.

Alan said: “Time is running out