Father Christmas visited Okehampton’s Waitrose on Saturday (November 27) as the Round Table put on its annual Santa sleigh.

Round Table members braved the cold to set up a red sleigh and wire reindeer for its popular Christmas event outside the supermarket.

Brian Galdson from the Round Table spent the day dressed up as Santa, sitting in the sleigh waving and smiling to Waitrose customers as part of the group’s fundraising event.

‘It’s good fun,’ he said, ‘and I’m lovely and warm in this suit.’

As Christmas music played, other members of the group wandered round dressed in high-vis jackets and holding collection buckets as Santa even helped Waitrose staff stack shelves.

Later on, the Round Table was presented with a £500 cheque from Waitrose which was this year’s Santa sleigh sponsor.

This is the first in a series of Santa sleigh events across Okehampton and the surrounding area, including Hatherleigh, North Tawton and Sticklepath and will also visit local schools such as St James, Hatherleigh and Highampton.

The Round Table will also use Santa’s sleigh on December 3, 4 and 5 to deliver pre-ordered real Christmas trees to the doors of Okehampton, North Tawton and South Zeal residents. ‘Elves’ will hand over the trees to customers.

The group are also offering a Christmas tree collection service and will pick up trees on January 8 and 9, 2022.

The Round Table is a group for men aged 18-45 which helps members of the local community.

In the past, it has provided support to St James Primary School and women’s support organisation Gilead, and helped to tidy Simmons Park.