Santa Claus on surfing safari at Harrods

Christmas came early for Londoners yesterday as Santa strolled into town.

But rather than his traditional snugly red and white fur suit Santa seems to have had a rare change of heart and plumped for a get up more fit for the beach.

Dressed in a blue Hawaiian shirt, red Bermuda shorts, flip flops, shades, and carrying a surfboard, Santa - still with his familiar beard and mop of white curly hair - strutted his stuff on the rainy streets of Knightsbridge.