FUN is the name of the game as hundreds of people will head to Hexham for a Christmas-themed mud run.

Stocksfield-based events company Challenge Northumberland, the team behind the challenging Mad March Mare assault course at Hexham Racecourse, has attracted hundreds of participants in the upcoming Mission Imp-Possible event on Sunday, December 13.

The aim of the new Christmas inspired event over a four-mile multi-terrain course around the track at Yarridge Heights, is to get to Santa at the end by tackling 20 natural and man-made obstacles.

Unlike the Mad March Mare, though, the emphasis is more on people enjoying the challenge rather than a race over more testing conditions.

And it is all in aid of charity as a percentage of the entry fee will go to Metro Radio‘s Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas Appeal, which last year raised £1.8m for North-East children living in poverty.

Already, the event has received the backing of the North-East’s favourite sons Ant and Dec who are to publicly support it in between filming for the current series of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here .

Challenge Northumberland director Neville Duncan said: “It’s not about competition, and there will be no chip timings or t-shirts as you go around the course.

“We will take times, of course, but it’s all about the charity and supporting Mission Christmas which has just been launched again this year.

“This event is all around the fun element for people and having a bit of a challenge at the same time.

“We realise it’s coming up to Christmas and people are busy, but we would love people to come along and enjoy the day with us.

“Metro Radio approached us and asked us to run it after the success of Mad March Mare, and we’re doing it because it’s for a worthwhile charity and we want to be part of trying to better the £1.8m raised last year for Mission Christmas.”

In addition to the obstacle course, which will go off in six waves at 11am, there will be entertainment provided to open the appeal of the event to the whole family.

From 10am, the racecourse will open to the public with a number of arts and craft stalls as well as music from North Road, the winners of Metro Radio’s Big Audition.

Of course, jolly Saint Nick will be there too to greet children, and participants, while the event will also act as a drop off point for people to donate presents to the charity.

The obstacle course is open to adults only, and people can enter prior to the day at www.missionimp-possible.co.uk. Cash only entries will be taken on the day.