A town's Santa Claus is spreading festive cheer for charity this year.
Gary Houlden, 51, who is spending December as Santa in Thornaby's Asda store, has decided to donate all his wages to a Stockton stroke charity. The full-time carer, whose wife, Dorothy, had a stroke in 1997, which left her with problems down her left side, will give about £400 to Stockton Speech after Stroke.
Mr Houlden usually spends all his time taking care of his wife, but she is being cared for by their daughter while he plays Father Christmas.
Mrs Houlden was left with impaired speech after her stroke and the charity helped her regain her talking powers.
The Asda store will donate 50p to charity for every child that visits Santa in the supermarket. All the money donated will go to the Headway Charity which helps people who have suffered from head injuries
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