SANTA’S little helpers came out to play as staff at Nationwide dressed as elves to raise funds for an Alzheimer’s charity.

Business suits were swapped for glittering costumes and the office was transformed into a festive wonderland on Thursday for activities that managed to raise £700 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

It rounded off a year of fundraising which saw Nationwide’s Business Transformation team hand just over £3,000 to the charity.

Stacey McGarry, a PMO analyst at Nationwide, said: “The Alzheimer’s Society has been our chosen charity for this year and we have really enjoyed fundraising.

“Elf Day was great. Everyone was really keen to get involved and it was a brilliant way to finish off the year.

“Our aim was to raise £2,000 by Christmas, so we’re pleased to have beaten it.”

The elves held a bake-off which saw about 15 different cakes and biscuits on offer, with prizes awarded to the winners. There was even a prize for the best dressed elf and everyone took part in a fun quiz.

Kim Dobbs said: “It was a great day. I was really surprised by how many people joined in with the quiz and the bake off.

“I thought it would only be a few of us dressing up but a lot of people were in elf costumes.

“It was all for a really great cause. Alzheimer’s is a horrible illness and we were happy to do all we can for the charity. It feels great to have smashed our fundraising target.”

Earlier this year, the team held a summer fete and in November organised a ‘glow in the park’ walk, which saw volunteers dress in bright neon clothes in a sponsored walk around Coate Water.

Laura Hewitt, the community fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society in Swindon, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all the staff in Business Transformation at Nationwide in Swindon for getting into the Christmas spirit and supporting Elf Day, as well as all the other fundraising events they’ve been running over the last three months.

“Christmas can be a difficult time for carers and people living with dementia, so it is very encouraging to see people raising vital funds and getting behind the cause.”

The amount raised through the team’s fundraising events will help support the charity’s work providing services and seeking a cure. There are 2,300 people with dementia in Swindon.