SANTA is usually accompanied by a team of nine reindeer.
But yesterday, four-legged friends of a different kind were helping him out on the Humber Bridge.
About 50 dogs and their owners and puppy parents from Canine Partners made a colourful red and white spectacle for the charity's first ever Santa Fun Run.
Dogs with collars covered in tinsel and wearing little reindeer antlers walked, jogged and ran alongside supporters of the charity wearing Santa outfits.
"I'm so pleased with the turn-out, veryone looked so festive," said event organiser and charity volunteer Fred Blackbourne.
"We could have been unlucky, especially with the events of Thursday night but it turned out really well.
"We had the idea of doing the event last year but it was a little too late to get it organised.
"We were thinking, 'where can we do it?' and the Humber Bridge was an obvious choice.
"It was a great day and hopefully made a lot of money for Canine Partners, which is a charity I'm very passionate about."
Fred hopes the event has raised at least £1,000, but although registration fees were collected on the day, sponsorship money will take a while to come in so it is difficult to give a final total.
All the money will be going to the national charity, which trains assistance dogs for disabled people.
Dogs can be trained for specific tasks, depending on a person's needs, but most can fetch mail from the door, load and unload a washing machine, pick up things which are dropped and act as a loyal companion and friend.
Two people who have benefited from the partnership dog scheme are Wendy Robson and Pam Quick.
Wendy, 53, from the Kingswood estate, took part in the charity event with her dog Connor.
"The charity is very close to my heart, what they do is just amazing," she said.
"I would be lost without Connor – he has done so much for me I wanted to give something back."
Connor helps Wendy in her role as a social worker. She got him in January to help her at work and home, as she suffers from muscular dystrophy.
"Connor has given me so much independence," she said.
"He has his own file that he carries paperwork around in at work.
"When I go in the office everyone loves seeing his big black head poking round the door.
"And his wages are cheap too – dog biscuits."
Pam Quick, 58, has been a wheelchair user since breaking bones in her back in 2000. She also has anti-phospholipid or "sticky blood" syndrome, which can result in pulmonary embolisms.
Arthritis in her hands also means items such as mobile phones, coins and keys often slip from her hands.
Pam, who took part with her dog partner Alucia, said: "I'd been looking forward to taking part in this for ages – it was the first thing that came up that was a real event where I could do something.
"Alucia and I have been spokespeople for the charity and we do demonstrations to show what the dogs can do, but this was something where I could ask people for sponsorship and tell them it would help others like me."
Anyone wishing to support the charity, visit caninepartners.org.uk
