These hilarious pictures show kids who burst into tears in Santa's grotto - including one lad who's blubbed every visit for three years.

The gallery of images have been shared online by mums and dads whose children have not enjoyed meeting Old Saint Nick,

Youngsters traditionally visit Grottos and stare in wonder and joy at Father Christmas as they tell them what they want in their stockings.

But these boys and girls have instead turned on the waterworks.

The images, found using the #Santafail hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, show some of the kids reaching out for their mums and dads to take them away.

Glasgow Times:

Deaf Samuel Spencer, pictured at one years old, attempts the sign language for 'Help' in a desperate bid to escape Santa.

He is now 13 years old but mum Kerry still shares the snap on social media every year.

Since it was posted on December 5, it's gone viral and been re-tweeted more than 8,000 times with over 30,000 likes.

Kerry, from Maryland, USA, said daughter, Lily, 11, is also "creeped out" by Santa.

One poor lad, Niko Argiropoulos, is pictured crying on the same Santa's lap three years in a row.

Glasgow Times:

The three-year-old from New Jersey, USA will be worried about his next visit to Moorestown Mall.

Dad Jamie said: "Niko loves Santa from afar and he especially loves his Elf on the Shelf, Lollie."

Dani Meisels, one, looks traumatised as she sits on Santa's lap at a preschool gingerbread house party in Los Angeles.

Santa, on the other hand, looks like he has fallen asleep.

Her mum Jessica wrote: "It's official- She's not that into Santa.😂🌲🎅🏼 . I think Santa is just as over her."