Santa spreads wings across Chase

Santa's 2008 Christmas Penkridge tour list has been revealed and will be taking in Rugeley for the first time.

Penkridge and District Round Table will roll its festive float out around the area from Friday, when the Christmas Fair, formerly Penkridge Victorian Market, will be opened by town crier Bevan Craddock at 5pm.

Santa's Float, originally launched by Round Table elder statesman Paul Caley back in the mid-1990s, has undergone extensive refurbishment during the past weeks in preparation for this season's outings.

Major work, including chassis reinforcement, has been carried out, while a few final touches include the addition of dance versions of some of the old Christmas classics for the float's new MP3 powered sound-system.

Round Table vice-chairman Kevin Long said: "It is my pleasure to be organising the Christmas float-related activities on behalf of Round Table this year.

"We have an extensive schedule planned to include no fewer than 15 outings for Santa and his helpers, 10 of which are full evening tours, a Saturday appearance at Somerfield supermarket, in Penkridge, and a new night to take our unique brand of festive cheer to the good people of Rugeley no less.

"Despite the current economic climate we hope everyone will dig deep and help us to make this another record-breaking year, thus further enabling us to help local good causes. Each year we've been able to raise greater amounts thanks to everyone's help both in the village itself and the wider Penkridge area."

The first full evening tour will take place on Sunday around Wheaton Aston.

Mr Long said: "If this week's cold snap is an indication of how things could be over the coming weeks, we'll be taking the much-travelled mascot hip-flask out with us for sure.

"I'm particularly buoyed by the fact that the holiday falls in such a way this time round that we'll be out spreading Santa's Christmas cheer right up to a couple of nights prior to Christmas Eve."

The dates currently scheduled are Friday, Penkridge Christmas Fair; Saturday, Penkridge Market; Sunday, Wheaton Aston; December 8, Dunston and Bednall; December 9, Acton Trussell; December 10, north Penkridge; December 11, west Penkridge; December 13, Penkridge Market; December 15, east Penkridge; December 17, north-east Penkridge; December 18, central Penkridge; December 20, Somerfield supermarket; December 21, Rugeley; December 22, south east Penkridge.

Mr Long added: "Penkridge and District Round Table and their helpers will use their best endeavours to adhere to this schedule.

"Achieving this is wholly dependant upon weather conditions, unanticipated technical issues, and all other unforeseen circumstances. In such instances, we pledge to do all we can to avoid disappointment."

Santa will appear between 6.30-9pm each evening and between 9am-noon at Penkridge Saturday markets. Visit www.penkridgeroundtable.co. uk