THE BAY Santa Run has been cancelled this year because of costs.

The annual event attracts hundreds of fundraisers dressed as Santa to run, walk or jog along Paignton seafront.

The Great English Riviera Santa Run last year raised more than £7,000 for the When You Wish Upon a Star charity.

But this year, the English Riviera Tourist Board said it was unable to find the money from its tourism budget.

A spokesman said: "Due to budget pressures and staff constraints across the council in terms of events and festivals, we have had to take the decision not to hold the Santa Run event this year.

"Although the event over the past two years has been well supported, it was felt the majority of participants were local residents and therefore it was questionable as to how this was encouraging people to visit the area and how we could justify the funds from our tourism budgets."

She said other organisations and groups had been asked to take on the fun run, but no one stepped forward, adding: "Therefore it was with regret the decision was taken to drop the event from this year's calendar."

Another charity in the Bay has since shown interest in running the event in 2010, but nothing has been confirmed.

"Should there be any interested groups out there who would like to look at speaking to the national charity which has been responsible for bringing the event here over the past two years, I would be more than happy to pass on their details," she said.

A spokesman for the Make A Wish charity said: "It's very disappointing, but understandable in the current economic climate and knowing what pressures councils are under."