Heywood Rotary Club Santa sleigh

Santa in his sleigh before setting off across Heywood

Members of Heywood Rotary Club have been out and about across the town over the last few weeks bringing Santa and his sleigh to visit local residents.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/99263/santa-and-his-sleigh-coming-to-town

For the first time in fifteen years, the club decided to bring Santa to the town to visit local children on their doorsteps and raising between £5,000 and £6,000 for local Heywood Charities.

Rotary Club member Mike Goldrick said: “This has been really good for Heywood and has really brought the Christmas feeling to Heywood. Everyone has been really positive about it and it is turning out to be the biggest community event of the year.”

The idea was the brainchild of Rotary member Paul Towriss who did the sleigh when he was part of Heywood Round Table.

Mike added: “This happened when Heywood had a Round Table and I think that ended about 15 years ago so Paul had the idea to bring the event back.

"When it was done previously you would see people stood on the street shouting and waving but these days, people are coming up to the sleigh for pictures sat in it so that has been nice.”

The efforts of the Rotary Club have been praised by many local residents with people thanking the club for making the effort to see as many children as possible.

Charities in Heywood are being urged to get in contact with the club to see if they can benefit from the money raised.