A TRAIN will help take the strain when Santa heads to a garden centre.

The train will be a new addition to Keighley Lions' popular annual grotto at Stephen Smith's, in Harden.

And a children's competition is being launched today to give it a name.

Since the Lions club began its festive partnership with Smith's 25 years ago, over £80,000 has been raised for charity.

This year Santa will arrive at the garden centre by sleigh on Saturday, December 1, at 10am, before transferring to the grotto-based train.

He will then be present every weekend up to Christmas, and on December 20 and 21, handing out gifts between 10.30am and 4pm.

The free-to-enter 'name the train' contest is open to children aged up to 12.

The winner will receive a £50 high street voucher, to be presented in a ceremony at Smith's on the launch morning.

Entry forms are available from the garden centre, Keighley Civic Centre, Harden Post Office, via Facebook or by e-mail from nalla105c@yahoo.co.uk.

Full competition rules are included on the form.

The closing date for entries is 4pm on November 18, or the following day for those submitted via e-mail or Facebook.

The Lions will also be staging their hugely-popular Santa's sleigh, which tours neighbourhoods on evenings throughout December and finishes by greeting shoppers in the town centre on Christmas Eve.

"We have been doing this every year – no matter what the weather – for over 50 years and raised in excess of £200,000 for charity," said a spokesman.

"For a number of years now Santa has been supported by local Scout groups, which do a wonderful job in helping with the collections."

A schedule of dates and routes for the sleigh will be published later this month.