The community of Haltwhistle has raised more than £5,000 to replace a Santa sleigh used in the town’s free Christmas event after it was accidentally demolished.
The sleigh is used each year as part of the town’s free Santa event, run by volunteers and supported by Haltwhistle Carnival, allowing children to meet Father Christmas at no cost.
It was destroyed after new owners took over the site where it had been stored and were unaware it held 'community significance'.
The Santa Sleigh organisers stored it at the former Crown Paints site on the Hadrian Enterprise Park, although no formal agreement had been in place.
New owners RiteRent said the building where the sleigh was housed was in a 'dangerous condition' and was not aware of any agreements in place regarding its storage.
One of the organisers of the Santa Sleigh event shared images on Facebook after the sleigh was demolished.
"So although we never had any formal permission to keep Santa's sleigh down at Crown, we were lucky enough to have a favour," the post said, adding that organisers were 'absolutely gutted, hours of work broken and piled in a heap'.
More: This Kielder restaurant is being called one of Northumberland’s best family finds
More: Proposals to improve safety on village road with 'history of accidents'
A GoFundMe page was set up to rebuild the sleigh, aiming to raise £2,000 and has now passed £5,000, meaning the sleigh will be replaced in time for Christmas this year.
Local businesses, including Karpet Mills and The Black Bull, have donated to help bring the sleigh back to Haltwhistle.
Organisers later posted on Facebook that 'in the face of adversary our town's support has overwhelmed us with love and gratitude'.
"Santa and his Elves now have their very own workshop," they said. "Jobling Purser have been so kind in donating us a huge space and storage (we couldn't do it without this.)"
Jobling Purser's asphalt director, Patrick Coulson, said: "Jobling Purser were saddened to hear that the existing storage location for the Haltwhistle Christmas Sleigh had abruptly come to an end of its tenure.
"A proud Northumberland-based business that employs mainly local residents, many of whom have families; we understand the excitement and importance of Christmas.
"We were, therefore, delighted to offer storage space for the new Sleigh within our recently acquired Haltwhistle yard."
RiteRent said 'causing upset was never our intention', and that demolition of the building had begun before it had taken over the site.
RiteRent said: "We are sorry to learn that the routine clearance of a recently acquired, condemned property included the removal of a sleigh that held special meaning for members of the Haltwhistle community. Causing upset was never our intention.
"Demolition had already commenced prior to RiteRent’s acquisition. The building was in a dangerous condition: structurally unsound in places, unsafe to enter, and contaminated by hazardous materials including pigeon droppings and general detritus.
"Contractors were instructed to clear the contents ahead of asbestos roof removal and further demolition works. We had no reason to believe that anything remaining inside held community significance.
"We had not been contacted regarding the sleigh or its importance and were unaware of any formal or informal storage arrangement. Had we been made aware, we would have been happy to discuss arrangements to relocate it.
"The clearance formed part of necessary safety and demolition preparations and was not carried out with any malice or disregard.
"We remain committed to supporting local communities and continue to make significant long-term investments in Haltwhistle, with positive lasting benefits for the area and its residents."
Santa Sleigh organisers were contacted for comment.
Share