Santa will be travelling in style in the Ruthin area in the run-up to Christmas – aboard a new, state-of-the art sleigh.

The man of the moment is being taken on his annual whistle-stop tour of 4,000 homes in the town and the surrounding villages.

As usual, the transport is being provided by members of Ruthin Rotary Club who have upgraded their Christmas float this year. The old one was a bit worse for wear after 30 years of excellent service and it’s been replaced by a brand new model carried by a Eurolight trailer from Ifor Williams Trailers.

It was unveiled during a special ceremony at the Wynnstay Arms, in Ruthin, where the guest of honour was Father Christmas himself. Also there were representatives of the sponsors who helped pay for and create the new sleigh.

The two reindeer at the front, fibreglass versions of Rudolph and Blitzen, were designed and made by Ruthin-based IWT Composites which is part of the Ifor Williams Trailers group of companies.

Geoff Andrews, the Marketing Officer of Ruthin Rotary Club, said: "We go around Ruthin and all the surrounding villages.

"We are out 20 nights in December and altogether we visit 4,000 homes and this year we are also putting a Christmas card through every single letterbox. We collect for local charities and we have sweets for all the children that we see and they are able to come out and tell Santa what they want for Christmas."

"We support both local charities and international charity. We can get very good matching grants through Rotary International. If we can find £1,000 for a fresh water project in Africa, we can also get another £3,000 from Rotary International to match that, so we can leverage up any money we raise."

"Locally, there is a great list of organisations and good causes that we supported last year, people like St John Ambulance, St Kentigern’s Hospice, Marie Curie, Ruthin Town Band, the Guides and the Scouts as well as local schools."

"The new Christmas float was a major project because the old one had come to the end of its useful life."

"It’s important that Santa is able to travel in style and hopefully this one can last us for another 30 years. We are grateful to the team at IWT Composites who have done a great job - I must say that Rudolph and Blitzen look absolutely splendid."

Pete Jakeman, the Manager of IWT Composites, was delighted to be involved in the project.

He said: "We normally made roofs and wind deflectors for the Ifor Williams Trailers range but fibreglass is a versatile material so we can turn our hand to anything. I must confess though this is the first time we have made any reindeer and the team have really enjoyed it."

"The float has been built on one our Eurolight trailers and we’re very proud of the part we have played in the project. For me, it’s been a really big thing to tell my daughter that I’m working with Santa at the moment. Her eyes just lit up."

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