SANTA will be parading along Poole Quay on Sunday December 7 after the council and the local community combined to save the day.

Residents were dismayed after the Dolphin Shopping Centre pulled the plug on the popular Santa Parade, on safety grounds.

Now the annual free festive fun already organised for the quay and sponsored by Jenkins Marine, has been expanded.

“The strength of feeling within the community following the cancellation of the Santa Parade really showed how important the event is to Poole's residents,” said Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for tourism, Borough of Poole.

“Christmas on the Quay has been a fantastic event for many years and we are particularly grateful to Jenkins Marine, the Jolly Sailor, Poole Park Land Train and Poole Harbour Commissioners, for allowing us to add this parade to their annual Christmas event.

“I would also like to commend Poole Tourism and the council's economic development and transportation teams for working to ensure this event goes ahead this year.”

Following tradition Santa will arrive at the quay by RNLI lifeboat decorated with Christmas lights at 4pm. Along with special guests, stilt walkers and his elves, he will board the Land Train, parading up and down the quay before a walkabout handing out treats, donated by Sainsbury’s Poole.

Father Christmas will wave goodbye to the crowds at 5.30pm before boarding a lifeboat to leave the quay.

Christmas on the Quay will continue with children’s rides, stalls and entertainment including Jamie Jigsaw, children from Old Town First School will sing traditional carols and the waters will be lit up with the boats Flotilla of Lights at 6pm.

“Christmas on the Quay is a lovely community event with a real sense of the spirit of the season and this year will be even better,” said Rod Jenkins from Jenkins Marine.

Graham Richardson, head of Poole Tourism said: “Whilst the event cannot be the same scale as the Dolphin Shopping Centre’s Santa Parade, it will still allow children a great opportunity to meet Santa and his elves and we would like to thank everyone for their support.”