Bah Humbug! Santa barred from Bullring

David Upson, aged 69, who is known locally in Bearwood as Santa Dave, was spending the day in the city centre dressed in his Santa costume to bring festive cheer to shoppers and workers.

However, upon going into the Bullring on Wednesday he says he was stopped by security guards at the centre and told he was not allowed to enter in his costume 'as it was private property'.

Mr Upson, from Oldbury, has posted his experience on Facebook, which has now been shared by friends and supporters of Santa Dave more than 5,000 times – with the centre bosses labelled as Scrooges.

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Mr Upson, a retired land surveyor, said he was only planning to bring festive cheer to the centre but was stopped near to the brass bull before he even got inside.

He said: "Two security guards came to me and kindly said that I would not be allowed in the centre.

"I was shocked as I then went over to Grand Central and they were lovely to me and allowed me to come in and sit down and have a coffee in there – it was completely different.

"I have walked around the German market for the past five years at Christmas time and have been Santa for 16 years. I have received no apology or response from the Bullring to explain any of this neither."

Mr Upson's daughter, Darice Bailey, said it was incredibly upsetting at this time of year. Shed added: "My dad has been Santa Dave for 16 years and he does it out of the kindness of his heart – with no money gain. He often visits sick children and is wildly known and loved by the people of the Black Country and I am incredibly proud of him as my dad.

"Every Christmas he will go to Birmingham and the German market and walk around dressed in his costume and pose for photos – the children love it.

"In the past he has been made incredibly welcome throughout the city so this is incredibly upsetting – its like Bah Humbug Bullring," she added. In a Facebook post yesterday Mr Upson added: "Thank you for your support folks I am glad that many of you have shared my first post as well because I would not like people to think I was knocking Birmingham or it's people, as Santa was made most welcome at the German market and the Grand Central and all in all it was a great seven hours of talking, laughing and having photos."

Hayley Albrigt from party shop Mad as a Hatter, in Bearwood, said she was disgusted to hear he had been turned away. She said: "He had purposely gone to Birmingham to bring festive cheer but was couldn't do that inside the main shopping centre there – it is disgusting.

"He spends a lot of time with us in the shop and has an incredibly good heart, hence why he does so much for charity without charging anything."

Sophie Diner, Bullring spokeswoman, said: "Our customers are welcome to walk through the centre in costumes. However, if any of our visitors in costume wish to engage with other customers' children for photos, there are certain procedures that need to be applied to protect all involved."