Santa’s flying visitto Bluebell Wood

Presenters from Daybreak flew in by helicopter – and gave Santa a lift to the North Anston hospice as well.

TV star Gethin Jones was doing live links from the hospice all morning, while local groups the Steel Pantastics, SDJ dance crew and fundraising group the Blu Crew provided entertainment.

Father Christmas handed out gifts including tickets for Disney on Ice at Sheffield Arena in the New Year to 25 youngsters.

Hospice chief executive Sarah Chamption said: “It was an absolutely magical experience for all the children.”

“We’d like to thank Santa, Gethin Jones and the Daybreak team for making this possible, and also to Steel Pantastics, the Blu Crew and SDJ dance group for providing the festive entertainment.”

Sarah Smith, mum of 13-year-old hospice user Jamie, said: “It was a wonderful experience for both Jamie and I. Gethin got Jamie a special present, and presented it to him live on air. Jamie’s face was a picture, he was over the moon”.

Nigel, from support group Blu Crew, added: “This was a privilege for us, and we were honoured to provide festive entertainment for our chosen charity.”

“It’s so important to us to support Bluebell Wood because the hospice does fantastic work with children with a shortened life expectancy and their families, and receives no statutory government funding.”