The region's most unusual setting for a Santa's Grotto is almost ready to touch down.

The team at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington. near York. are preparing for a special arrival in the main hangar, as Santa Airlines arrives for the third year in a row.

The museum’s Christmas grotto, inside the legendary Dakota paratrooper aircraft, will be welcoming visitors for five days in December.

Santa gives the thumbs up at last year's eventSanta gives the thumbs up at last year's event (Image: S. CLAUS)

Children will be greeted by cabin-crew-elves in the museum’s departure lounge for some fun and creative activities, before heading to the hangar and boarding the Second World War aircraft where they’ll be met by Santa himself.

The museum’s spokesperson, and Santa Liaison Officer, Jerry Ibbotson said: ‘We started Santa Airlines two years ago and its popularity has grown and grown.

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"The big man loves visiting us here at the museum and meeting all the keen young aviators, and the Dakota is a perfect place to have a grotto. It really does look special all lit up for Christmas. We hope families will enjoy it as much as we do."

Santa prepares to board the Dakota, surely the region's most unusual setting for a Christmas GrottoSanta prepares to board the Dakota, surely the region's most unusual setting for a Christmas Grotto (Image: S. CLAUS)

As well as Santa Airlines 2024, the museum will be telling stories of wartime Christmases, will have its Christmas Wishing Tree in place, and have plenty of festive food and drink on offer in the café.

Santa Airlines runs on December 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23. Pre-booking is advised via the museum website – www.yorkshireairmuseum.org/xmas