YOUNG Melissa Wilkinson thought Christmas had been cancelled when she found Santa's grotto had been converted into a cafe.

Instead of finding Father Christmas at his usual spot in Middlesbrough's HillStreet Centre, the six-year-old was dismayed to find it was a cafe.

And she was so worried, she got grandmother Deanna Walker to write a letter asking for information on Santa's whereabouts.

The letter arrived on the desk of Peter Drabble, acting manager at the centre.

He realised that the vacant space where the grotto usually is had been turned into a Bakers Oven cafe.

Mr Drabble said: "The staff here at the HillStreet Centre have been working very hard in trying to negotiate a site for Santa's grotto this year.

"We didn't want anyone to be disappointed and there will definitely be a grotto, only this year it is between Primark and Superdrug, in the Centre Square."

And Melissa, who lives at Ingleby Barwick, near Yarm, has received an invite from Santa to open the grotto next week.

Melissa will be taking brothers Daniel, nine, and four-year-old James, along with her.

Mother, Dawn, said: "The whole family is thrilled, especially for Melissa. It is a dream come true for her."