TYNEDALE Lions Club’s Santa sleigh hit the road last Saturday to spread festive cheer to children in communities across the district.

The tour by Father Christmas has been an annual tradition for more than 30 years, raising funds which the Lions distribute to local good causes.

This year, lots of Santa’s little helpers will be on hand along the way to ensure all the boys and girls get sight of the big man before Christmas Day rolls around.

Volunteers from Hexham Scouts, Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club, Stocksfield Scouts and Stocksfield Cricket Club are all lending a hand with shaking collection buckets along the route.

Youngsters in Wall, Humshaugh, Fourstones, Newbrough and Slaley have already seen the sleigh pass through their communities, but Santa has been able to squeeze 10 more dates into his busy diary before December 25.

His schedule, from 5pm at each location, is: Riding Mill Friday; Haydon Bridge Saturday; Stocksfield on Sunday and a four-night run in Corbridge between Monday, December 18 and Thursday, December 21.

He’ll then finish off with a return trip to Stocksfield on Friday, December 22, Acomb on Saturday December 23 and one more stint in Corbridge on Christmas Eve.

Full details of the streets included in each route are available online at www.tynedalelionsclub.org

**Hexham Round Table’s Santa sleigh will begin touring Hexham this weekend.

Families will be able to meet Santa in the Beaumont and Highford areas of town between 4pm and 7.30pm on Saturday.

Saint Nick will be out and about on Priestlands and the west end of the town on Sunday, again from 4pm to 7.30pm.

Next Thursday, he will be in Elvaston and the east end of Hexham from 5pm to 8pm and on Friday, December 22, the sleigh will pass through Cockshaw and Tyne Green from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.