Can you help Santa find a new home? (From Northwich Guardian)

Can you help Santa find a new home?

12:10pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News By Emma Rigby

CHRISTMAS may be cancelled this year unless Santa can find a new home.

For the best part of 10 years, Santa has set up shop in Weaver Square, where he has handed out toys to well-behaved boys and girls, as well as posing for festive photographs.

But this year, following the demise of the shopping centre, Santa’s little helpers don’t know where the grotto will be based.

Ian Lewis, chairman of the Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal, who organise the grotto with the help of Northwich Round Table, said: “The support that Weaver Square has given us over the years has been tremendous, but now it’s gone bust we’re stuck for a place to hold the grotto and store all the toys and the sleigh we use for our street collections.

“All of the money we raise goes straight to charity and so it’s vital we can carry on.”

Alternative locations are currently being considered but with nothing yet set in stone, organisers are appealing for suggestions.

“One of the options is to have a travelling grotto, but this will again mean finding willing businesses and organisations to help us out,” said Rotary member Peter Hall.

“If we can’t find somewhere to hold the grotto, the only alternative would be to have more street collections but again, we’ll need help in terms of volunteers to do them.

“We’ve raised more than £50,000 for local charities over the years doing these events and the children get so much enjoyment out of it – Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it.”

The Guardian is looking to help both the Rotary Club and Round Table in their plight, and is appealing to anyone who feels they can help save Christmas.

If you want to help, email emma.rigby@nqnw.co.uk or contact the Rotary directly via their website.