ON Christmas Eve, Santa's work in The Mall, Cleveland - formerly Cleveland Shopping Centre - came to an end as a prelude to his big night ahead.

Since last month, he had been busy listening to lots of children who came to visit him at his grotto, with his helpers from the Rotary Club of Middlesbrough.

Santa, together with Daisy the cow, Bella Emberg (Fairy Thistledown) and Eileen Pollock (Sycorax the Witch), from Middlesbrough Theatre's pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, gave cheques to a number of charities.

Cash went to the chairman of Middlesbrough Council's charities the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal and Teesside Hospice Care Foundation, as well as North East Air Ambulance Service, Diabetes UK, Marrow, Heats, Free from Pain, Middlesbrough Refuge, Refugees in Middlesbrough and MS Therapy Centre.

President of Middlesbrough Rotary Club Richard Stainsby said: "I am delighted that once again we were able to support so many worthwhile local charities this year."