FATHER Christmas and his little helpers from Ryedale Lions Club begin their Christmas sleigh tour starting at the Pickering Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday, December 2.

He will then be flying around the towns and villages of north Ryedale over the next fortnight to make it a Christmas to remember for hundreds of children who come out to see him.

Elves from the Lions Club will be with the sleigh and collecting door-to-door in their biggest fundraising event of the year, hoping to top the record £8,800 collected last year for the benefit of local charities.

“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 brighter New Year for many deserving causes,” said Ryedale Lions organiser Brian Johnson.

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

Saturday, December 2: Pickering lights switch-on 4.30pm

Sunday, December 3: Helmsley (South) 4pm; Helmsley (North) 6.30pm.

Monday, December 4: Rosedale School 4.40pm; Cropton 5.40pm; Wrelton 6.30pm; Aislaby & Middleton, Holme Farm, 7.40pm.

Tuesday, December 5: Beadlam 5.30pm; Nawton 6.45pm; Kirkbymoorside (Lund Lane & Parkers Mount) 7.45pm.

Wednesday, December 6: Appleton 5.30pm; Spaunton 6.10pm; Lastingham 6.40pm; Hutton-le Hole, Crown Inn 7.20pm; Keldholme & Kirkby Mills 8.10pm.

Thursday, December 7: Oswaldkirk 5.30pm; Ampleforth 6.50pm.

Friday, December 8: Thornton Dale 5pm

Saturday, December 9: Kirkbymoorside (East) 5.15pm.

Sunday, December 10: Pickering (South West) 4pm; Pickering (East) 6.30pm.

Monday, December 11: Nunnington 5.30pm; Harome 6.30pm; Wombleton 7.50pm.

Tuesday, December 12: Kirkbymoorside (West) 5.15pm.

Wednesday, December 13: Wilton 5.30pm; Ebberston 6.15pm; Allerston 7.30pm; Cayley Arms 8pm.

Thursday, December 14: Salton 5.30pm; Normanby 6.10pm; Marton 6.50pm; Sinnington 7.30pm.

Friday, December 15: Pickering (North) 5.30pm.

Saturday, December 16: Pickering Market Place, 11am to 2pm.

Sunday, December 17: Gillamoor 5.40pm; Fadmoor 6.20pm; Great Edstone 7pm.