IT’S that time of year again when Santa Claus is thinking about his return to Poole.

The popular parade is back, promising to be bigger and better than ever, on Sunday, November 20.

Santa Claus will arrive as usual by RNLI lifeboat at Poole Quay and the fun begins from 10am.

With entertainment for the whole family, there will be real reindeer, naughty elves, balloon modellers, stiltwalkers, rollerskating robins and Wessex Majorettes.

Poole mayor Cllr Graham Wilson will be lending his civic presence to the event, along with the Dolphin Marching Band, and of course Santa Claus.

A special appearance will be made by the cast from Lighthouse panto Cinderella including Guy Siner, better known as Lt Hubert Gruber from ‘Allo ‘Allo!, as the Baron and Last of the Summer Wine’s Sarah Thomas as the Fairy, along with Dandini and Cinderella herself.

The fun-filled rags to riches panto, promising pumpkins, plenty of laughs, music and magic, takes to the stage from December 9 to January 8.

The parade will wend its way through the town centre to take Santa to his grotto at the Dolphin Shopping Centre, where he will be greeting good children until Christmas Eve.

Youngsters will be able to tell him their Christmas wish list, get their photo taken and depart with a goodie bag for £5.

The centre will be opening late every every Thursday in December until 9pm and there will also be extended Christmas shopping hours from Monday, December 12.