SANTA has begun his tours around Radcliffe to help get children and their families into the festive spirit.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Radcliffe, the annual sleigh rounds began in Outwood village on December 3, with routes planned every weekday until December 23, inclusive.

For the first time, the sleigh will be visiting Hardy's Gate and Tudour Grange areas.

The Santa sleigh is one of the club's biggest fundraisers of the year, generating some £8,000 to enable the Rotarians to carry out their vital work in the community

This year's event has been made possible by carpentry and joinery students at Bury College who helped to transform a float into a working sleigh complete with LED lights and a sound system.

To track Santa's movements when he is out on his sleigh, visit http://www.sleightracker.co.uk/.

These are the proposed routes in the run-up to Christmas:

Wednesday, December 11 — Outwood Road Estate

Thursday, December 12 — Bradley Fold

Friday, December 13 — Central Radcliffe

Monday December 16 — Bury Road area (the club doesn't collect in Bury Road)

Tuesday, December 17 — Ainsworth Village

Wednesday, December 18 — Sparking Clog

Thursday, December 19 — Ainsworth Rd West

Friday, December 20 — Moss Shaw

Monday, December 23 — Harper Fold