FATHER Christmas and his helpers from Ryedale Lions Club are making last-minute preparations for his sleigh tour, starting at Pickering Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday, December 3.

He will then speed off around the towns and villages of north Ryedale over the next two weeks. "Elves" from the Lions Club will be with the sleigh and collecting door-to-door in its biggest fundraising event of the year for local charities, hoping to top the record £8,000 collected last year.

Money raised will go to help St Catherine’s Hospice, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Ryedale Special Families, plus other local good causes.

“The smiles on the faces of so many children meeting Santa make it a great night to remember and the money that local people donate will make it a better New Year for many others in need locally,” said Ryedale Lions organiser Brian Johnson.

Full details of Ryedale Lions Santa sleigh schedule (subject to weather) are:

Saturday, December 3: Pickering lights switch-on 4.30pm

Sunday, December 4: Helmsley (South) 4pm; Helmsley (North) 6.30pm.

Monday, December 5: Rosedale 5pm; Cropton 5.40pm; Wrelton 6.30pm; Middleton 7.40pm.

Tuesday, December 6: Beadlam 5.30pm; Nawton 6.45pm; Kirkbymoorside (Lund Lane & Parkers Mount) 7.45pm.

Wednesday, December 7: Appleton 5.30pm; Spaunton 6.10pm; Lastingham 6.40pm; Hutton 7.20pm; Keldholme 8.10pm.

Thursday, December 8: Oswaldkirk 5.30pm; Ampleforth 6.50pm.

Friday, December 9: Thornton Dale 5pm.

Saturday, December 10: Kirkbymoorside (East) 5pm.

Sunday, December 11: Pickering (South West) 4pm; Pickering (East) 6.30pm.

Monday, December 12: Nunnington 5.30pm; Harome 6.30pm; Wombleton 7.50pm.

Wednesday, December 14: Wilton 5.45pm; Allerston 6.30pm; Ebberston 7.30pm.

Thursday, December 15: Salton 5.30pm; Normanby 6.10pm; Marton 6.50pm; Sinnington 7.30pm.

Friday, December 16: Pickering (North) 5.30pm.

Saturday, December 17: Pickering Market Place 11am to 2pm; Kirkbymoorside (West) 5.15pm.

Sunday, December 18: Gillamoor 5.40pm; Fadmoor 6.20pm; Great Edstone 7pm.