Santa returns to town - with police escorts

Santa is to be given a police escort in a Scottish town after coming under attack from youths throwing rocks and bottles, it was disclosed today.

Over the past 40 years, the tradition has grown up in Alloa of Santa’s sleigh visiting every street in the town to see the children.

But two years ago, the visits – which had raised up to £10,000 (€14,200) a year for local charities – were abandoned after the sleigh was targeted by hooligans.

Mike Mulraney, of organisers Alloa Round Table, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have a large sleigh and Santa toured around every single street in the community with music, Christmas carols, lights and Santa saying hello to all the kids.

“Every door was knocked and every child in Clackmannanshire got a visit from Santa. As time went on, the situation changed from the odd egg being thrown to two years ago, when stones and bottles were thrown and there were threats of a physical nature.

“It was only a few kids, but enough that from a safety point of view we decided we couldn’t continue with the tradition.”

After a Santa-less Christmas last year, the sleigh will be returning to the streets of Alloa within the next few days accompanied by a police escort, said local provost Derek Stewart.

Mr Stewart told Today: “We are very fortunate that we have got fantastic support from the community police in Clackmannanshire and the council, who are coming out to help and ensure that they are going to give us every assistance to get Santa back on the streets.”