Free Santa's grotto family floored by demand

A couple who turn their conservatory into a free Santa's grotto to ensure no family misses out on Christmas say they have been overwhelmed by the response.

Pamela Firth, 76, and husband Bob, 73, have been making part of their home into a winter wonderland for children for the past seven years.

This year they received more than 5,000 calls to see Father Christmas at the West Yorkshire attraction.

Mrs Firth said: "We wanted to make it free to meet him because it's magic."

The demand to attend the festive hotspot in Bingley floored them when they opened bookings on Sunday.

Mrs Firth and her daughter Lisa dealt with thousands of inquiries which, at one point, crashed their phone due to the volume of calls.

She said: "Although it was a long, tiring day, I wouldn't change a minute of it.

"An automated system would be easier but then I wouldn't hear the excited voices, screams and whoopees would I?"

The couple said making the chance to meet Santa free meant no youngsters were excluded due to cost.

Mrs Firth said: "Santa is amazing. We wanted to make it free to meet him because it's magic.

"We run over two weekends which are now four days full of back-to-back appointment from 09:00 to 16:00."

While the special meet-and-greets happen on just a few days, getting the grotto and house ready for the celebrations take a little longer.

"My husband started to put lights up in September and I daren't think how much I've spent on decorations over the years," Mrs Firth said.

While the grotto is free, the Firths welcome donations for the Yorkshire Children's Trust.

So far, they have raised more than £8,000 for the charity, which helps children and their families cope with the emotional and financial strain of life-changing illnesses.

Grandfather-of-five Blake Meyer, who has been helping Santa Claus since 2016, also waives any fee for his time.

Mrs Firth added: "We get pleasure out of them coming. We're so grateful.

"It's a proper community thing, our neighbours come and help to be elves or donate tea and coffee or balloons.

"It brings us together."

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