The heartwarming reason a wave of Santas paddled down The Tyne on Sunday

If you'd been walking along the Quayside in Newcastle on Sunday morning, you might have spotted a wave of Santas making the way along the River Tyne.

It may have looked like Father Christmas had been cloned, but really it was the Northern SUP Race Club taking part in their annual fundraiser.

The stand-up paddleboard group joined forces with CBK adventures, Coquet Canoe Club and Tynemouth Canoe Club to don their outfits, mount their boards and make their way under Newcastle's iconic bridges.

Chair of Northern SUP Race Club, Anna said: "The aim of our club is to train on a paddleboard every week and we do a lot of races around England and in the local area as well.

"It's like going to the gym on the water.

"People travel quite a long way, we have members who come across from Carlisle, Cramlington, South Shields... it does attract a lot of people as the nearest race team is Nottingham way."

The paddle down The Tyne is a tradition that started four years ago when just four people braved the cold to hit the waters.

This year the event saw 66 people take part, raising money at the same time as revelling in the festive spirit.

Anna said: "Last year one of our club members died of bowel cancer and we decided we better do it for him.

"He was full of fun and it seemed the right thing to do to dress up as Santa.

"It was a great atmosphere, it's really special, fun and a little bit crazy as well."

Graham Stockdale, the former member of Northern SUP Race Club, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2018 and lost his fight in July 2020 at the age 59.

Raising money for Bowel Cancer UK on The Tyne was made extra special for the group by the thrill of the occasion.

Anna said: "You have to have a lot of documents filled in to be able to paddle down The Tyne as the current is quite ripping, you can't paddle down The Tyne willy nilly.

"I think because a lot of us are from the North East there's something really special about those bridges.

"It's so special as it's really peaceful yet so built up.

"It was amazing seeing all the people either side and the atmosphere was electric yesterday.

"It's not often you get to dance, sing and paddle together like that.

"As we reached Newcastle it was lined with people because the market was on.

"We just stopped between the bridges between the Millennium Bridge and the Tyne Bridge and it was just beautiful."

You can donate to the fundraiser here.