IF you're looking to personally deliver your gift lists to Santa then you'll have plenty of opportunities in Glasgow today. In fact thousands of them.

It's the annual Santa Dash, where runners don the red coats and hats, glue on the beards, forgo sleighs and reindeer and jog through the city streets for charity. Last year's Dash raised £40,000 for the Prince of Wales Hospice, this year's recipient is the Beatson Cancer Charity and organisers are set on busting that record.

The 5k fun run sets off from George Square at 10am and the race takes in St Vincent Street, Finnieston Street, Broomielaw, Oswald Street, Argyle Street and Buchanan Street before finishing up back at the square.

All those who finish the race will be given a Santa's Little Helper medal and there will be spot prizes, provided by the little elves in Glasgow City Chambers. The city council is organising the race.

Each participant is given head-to-toe Santa gear – excluding the sack! – prior to setting off and, sorry, but it's fully booked and too late to take part with an expected 6000 Father Christmas Ho!Ho!Ho-ing through the streets, or more likely panting on the hills. But you can cheer on the runners, or even sponsor them.

Partick Thistle mascot Kingsley is taking up the challenge this year but they're clearly going to have to sew a few red coats together to fit him in.

First Bus is also backing today's Dash by offering fully-dressed participants free travel to and from the event. Family and friends will also be able to take the bus at a discounted price of £1.40 .

But there will be diversions and road restrictions kick in at 6am so motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Closures will be in place across the city centre until 1pm. Major routes affected include Merchant City roads like Ingram Street and Queen Street, Finnieston Street southbound, Lancefield and Anderston Quays, Broomielaw east and westbound, Argyle and Buchanan streets and the west and eastbound ramps off the Clydeside Expressway towards Finnieston Street.