While the exact figure may not be confirmed for up to three weeks, organiser Martin Mullan confirmed that over 12,000 had registered prior to the day and over 1,500 people registered on Sunday morning alone.

Earlier efforts by Liverpool and Las Vegas to clinch the record failed with the latter setting a previous record of 7,286 Santas and Liverpool having just over 6,000.

Such was the day's success, Martin Mullan and his team ran out of Santa costumes. The majority of the 1,500 who turned up to register on the day had to provide their own Santa suit. The line of Santas stretched the length of the city walls and as some finished, many more were waiting to walk the historic monument.

"Everything went perfectly. We even had to close registration at a point this morning as we had run out of stuff but this has been a huge success," Mr. Mullan told the 'Journal' on Sunday.

"People told me we wouldn't pull this off but the people of Derry have big hearts and they did it in style.

"I had a team of 75 volunteers placing the cordon at Guildhall Square at 6am, where else would you get such dedication and commitment?"
Mr. Mullan thanked the people of the city and those who travelled from as far away as New York, France and Scotland to participate. He also praised the 300-strong team of stewards and 23 medical staff who ensured the day proved a success.

"Derry people have such big hearts and they have raised both money for local charities and the profile of this town internationally," said Martin. "I honestly believe that this day will go down as one of the best in this town's history.

"We are not as big as Liverpool or Las Vegas but we are a small city with a big heart. I think I'm the proudest man in the world today."
The event raised £400,000 for Children in Crossfire, iCare 4 autism, Foyle Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Care for Children.

When asked if he had planned to make the event an annual one, Mr. Mullan, who has raised £1.4 million for charity over the last ten years, confessed he needed a rest after a long year spent arranging Sunday's festivities.

"I'll let someone else break the Guinness World Record the people of Derry set before I try and break it. To be honest I need to give a few days to my family and see my wife. I would like to thank them for their support and my father-in-law Michael who helped us with the weather."