IT IS often said Christmas gets earlier every year – and with selection boxes already on sale in the supermarkets it certainly seems that way.

So perhaps Santa's presence on the streets of Truro in the distinctly un-Yuletide month of November is just a sign of the times – or more to the point a question of signs on the road.

For in order to get the licence for the first City Santa Fun Run, organisers were told the nearest they could do it was a full 34 days before Christmas.

And it is not that the Truro Rotary Club event – which is raising funds for the West Briton-backed Ella's Memory – appears to have a lack of participants. The charity raises funds for the Daisy Suite at Royal Cornwall Hospital for bereaved parents in the name of Ella Selley, who was stillborn.

So far about 20 people – including Martyn Selley, Ella's father – have volunteered to take part in the mile-long run from Malpas Park to Lemon Quay on Sunday, November 21.

The first 50 to sign up will be given a free Santa outfit to do the run in, after it was sponsored by River Street Business Centre.

Sarah Gillett, of Red Publishing, said: "We've already had a lot of people who are interested and we haven't even started publicising it yet.

"For anyone who wants to take part it's a £10 fee and sponsorship. Once they register we will give out the sponsorship forms.

"We're hoping for around 50 or 100 people to get involved. So if anyone could sponsor any more of the suits that would be great.

"And anyone who could help with refreshments or who wants to take part should get in touch."

And she added it is not just fat men in red suits that are needed – mums and kids could join in with the Christmas theme, too, dressed as reindeers with buggies made up as sleighs.

To take part in the Truro Santa Fun Run at 10am call 01872 222252.