A FESTIVE fundraiser has secured £5,100 for local charities, thanks to the Santa's grotto run by the Rotary Club of Middlesbrough.
Over five weeks, the club raised the cash by collecting in The Mall Middlesbrough shopping centre.
From his arrival with his reindeer on Sunday, November 20, until Christmas Eve, Father Christmas spent time entertaining many visiting children.
Middlesbrough Rotary president John Hemy said: "This is a very important opportunity for all of our members to get involved with this excellent event and give something back to the community."
The charities which benefited are Samaritans of Teesside, Diabetes UK (Teesside branch), Multiple Sclerosis, Daisy Chain, Free from Pain and Zoe's Place.
In recognition of the group's 30 years of collecting in The Mall, its management has donated a further £1,000.
Tracey Surtees, marketing manager of the centre, said: "By providing a Father Christmas who has no entrance fee, we feel this collection maintained the spirit of Christmas and showed how generous the people of Middlesbrough are."
The cheque presentation was made by Kim Hartman, Helga in Allo Allo and the star of Middlesbrough Theatre's pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
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