OCTOGENARIAN Val Norman has become the first person to enter Watchet’s inaugural Santa fun run being organised next month.

Mrs Norman, who is 86 years old, bought the event’s first ticket after collecting her sponsorship form from Watchet Visitor Centre.

The fun run will see runners dressed in festive hats and suits running or walking 10 laps of Watchet War Memorial Recreation Ground.

Mrs Norman was a competitive hurdler in her school days, but, 70 years later, she says she intends to walk around the recreation ground.

She said her late husband Keith enjoyed going to the ground and watching the town’s football teams play and so she wanted to do her bit to help keep sport happening there.

Mrs Norman said it was important to support the committee which manages the war memorial recreation ground and wants to see the football and cricket pavilion renovated.

She said: “I would like younger people not to forget the sacrifices of the people that we lost in the wars and why the town is able to still use the ground.

“It was given to the town for sports and recreation in memoriam for the sportsmen lost in the First World War.”

The Santa fun run takes place at 11 am on Sunday, December 7, with tickets at £5 for adults and £1 for children, who must be supervised, available online and sponsorship forms available in the visitor centre and Albert’s Ardware store.

Ten laps of the playing field equates to about three miles, or five kilometres, and people are being asked to take part even if they feel they can only complete one lap.

Prizes will be awarded for the best festive dressed adult and child and every entrant will receive lap certificates.

Residents are also being asked to go along and support the event on the day.