FATHER Christmas wants to bring some festive cheer early – for those children who will not make it to December 25.

Bobby Highton, 64, of Cheltenham Road, Wolverham, has been dressing up as Santa for 20 years and is now offering his services to anyone who knows a child with a terminal illness who may not be around to wake up on Christmas morning.

He said: “I moved to Ellesmere Port 20 years ago, then went down to Cornwall for 10 years and now I’m back.”

Bobby, who wears handmade Victorian robes when in character, has played Santa at the waterways Museum – where he learned to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in 42 languages, and at the Port Arcades.

He added: “I’m trying to get somebody in touch with me whose kids or family aren’t going to make Christmas and bring Christmas forward.”

Bobby began playing a cowboy in summer fetes, performing daring knife throwing routines and was a town crier during his time in Cornwall, serving St Day, Redruth and surrounds.

Bobby added: “I’ve brought Christmas forward on a couple of occasions.

“I’ve got thank you letters – that’s the hardest part of the job, the letters afterwards or when you see something in the obituary columns.

“But the best part of the job is turning up, they’re trying to look behind the fur and the glasses.”

If you are interested in taking advantage of Bobby’s generous offer, call him on 0151 3565612.