Santa Claus has come to town and is helping to raise money for a new Scout hut.

Meeting Santa - Lucas and cery Wrigley-Moss get to meet Father Christmas at the George Yard Shopping Centre in Braintree. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (46615-a)

He arrived in Braintree during the late-night shopping event on Friday and will be in the George Yard shopping centre every weekend for the next three weeks, including Christmas Eve.

Over the weekend more than 250 children visited Father Christmas in his grotto helping to raise £700 for the Black Notley Scouts and Guides so far.

Gavin Wood, the man in the suit and also Scout group leader, said: "It is going really well. It has been much better than last year and on Friday night, there were lots of people queuing for about an hour."

He said the group is hoping to raise about £1,500 for the refurbishment of their headquarters in Witham Road, Black Notley, which is in urgent need of repair.

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Published Monday, December 5, 2005

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