MANORLANDS is on course for a cracker of a Christmas thanks to activities at Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre.

Hundreds of families have visited a Santa's grotto run by the Sue Ryder hospice in the centre's Brunswick Arcade.

Also, funds are being raised through a gift-wrapping service and donations are being dropped into a wishing well.

Manorlands senior fundraiser Andrew Wood said the programme of festive activities was on target to raise £4,000.

"After just the first weekend in December we'd already broken the £1,500 barrier through the grotto and the other things we've got going on," he said.

"We can't thank the Airedale Shopping Centre enough for how much it has helped and supported us. It set up the grotto and the wishing well for us and we really do appreciate all its support.

"There's still time to come and see Father Christmas and it really is a quality experience. Everyone gets a present and a photo opportunity and we don't rush people through. It takes as long as it takes and if there's a queue, then there's a queue."

Airedale Shopping Centre manager, Steve Seymour, said the grotto had been well attended and the feedback excellent.

He added: "We have been delighted to support Manorlands this year as the centre's chosen charity. The work done in the hospice and throughout our local community is vital to patient care and family support.

"Its volunteers work so hard and with such dedication that they deserve every penny we can help them raise. I'm sure our shoppers can assit them to hit their £4,000 fundraising target and I would love to exceed it."

The grotto's remaining opening hours are from Saturday until Christmas Eve, between 10am and 4.30pm. Entry is £4.

The gift-wrapping service – operated by hospice volunteers –will continue in the centre tonight (Dec 18), this weekend and in the three days up to Christmas.

"If like me you're no good at wrapping it's great because you can just take all your presents down there and get them done beautifully," said Mr Wood.

"Let's face it, it'll be the men mainly so it will be busy right up to the last minute!"

Manorlands – which provides specialist palliative care for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses – costs over £2 million a year to run, and relies for most of its income on voluntary contributions.