SINGING Santa Claus figures have been converted into tuneful gnomes for the new season at their garden centre home.

Dobbies Garden World imported the 4ft Santas from a specialist manufacturer in Hong Kong as a Christmas crowd puller. The festive five sang Christmas carols and songs to visitors at the entrance to the Durham Road garden centre, in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street.

But, having made a £5,500 investment, garden centre managers were determined to get their money's worth.

So, after a skilful recycling job by centre staff, the quintet have reappeared on site as garden gnomes. Their make-over has seen them transformed into a Sixties-style five-piece group, which have been christened Dave Dee, Dobbie and the Gerbras, by the garden centre workforce, after the company's pink flower symbol, gerbra.

They each play a different instrument as they sing a variety of songs, including Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday.

Assistant garden centre manager Matt Thompson said: "We found the kids loved them at Christmas and, as we want to be more of a family attraction for the rest of the year, we have reintroduced them for the run-up to the summer season."