Santa and his sleigh visits Dudley streets
Generous community campaigners have brought Santa and his sleigh around Black Country streets handing out thousands of presents to children.
Kind-hearted volunteers from Black Country Wellbeing Centre, based in Upper Gornal, wanted to spread festive cheer following a difficult year brought on by Covid.
They took a converted trailer around the different areas of Dudley over a week and a half.
They dressed up as Santa Clause, Mrs Clause, elves and even The Grinch while handing out boxes of chocolate and sweets in a socially-distanced manner. Around 4,500 presents were handed out, including chocolate boxes and sweets, which were donated by businesses and members of the community. Campaigners spent about £500 converting the trailer.
Damian Corfield, one of the volunteers, said: "With such uncertainty this year with Covid-19, and the restrictions that have been going on, and lots of families won't be able to see each other over Christmas, we wanted to bring Christmas to the local kids and local area.
"We wanted to bring a positive thing out of a year that has been negative. We just wanted to give something back to the community. The smiles from the kids that we went past, and the elderly residents and adults too, has been absolutely overwhelming.
"It has really made that difference. We have come from the centre of Dudley, all the way up through all the estates, in the north of Dudley, right up to the end of the Northway, which is the furthest part of Sedgley.
"You can really see the difference it has made to people of all ages. They have been happy to see us. Everybody has gone involved as we have gone by.
"Everybody has been out on their doorsteps, waving and cheering us, it has really made a massive impact on the community."
There are plans to make a bigger sleigh next year and a possible visit to people during Easter.
