CHRISTMAS arrived in Worcester in style yesterday as Santa Claus proceeded through the city centre on a gleaming horse-drawn sleigh.

Following the Christmas lights switch-on, the festive season got under way this weekend as Santa made his merry way down the High Street towards his new home for the coming weeks – a sparkling winter wonderland grotto inside the CrownGate Shopping Centre.

With Rudolph presumably resting up before Christmas Eve, the excited crowds were thrilled to see the beautiful jet-black mare who pulled Santa’s sleigh along the High Street from the Guildhall down to Angel Place The parade was serenaded along the way by the sounds of Santa-hatted band the Jazz Ramblers, who played lively versions of traditional Christmas favourites on tuba, clarinet, trumpet and banjo.

Santa was joined in his sleigh by a handful of helper elves, fairies, angels and shepherds who waved at the excited trail of youngsters following the procession.

Early Christmas shoppers stopped to smile and stare and even Santa’s six-man security team in their high-visibility jackets couldn’t help getting caught up in the festive spirit.

Sweets were handed out to youngsters at Angel Place, who were excited and terrified in equal measure at coming face-to-face with Father Christmas.

“I think it’s brilliant,” said six-year-old Laura Humphries, from Worcester. “I want to meet Father Christmas and I want to get a present!”

At the CrownGate Shopping Centre, a short roadshow was held for the cheering crowd before the queues began to form to meet Santa in his grotto.

The grotto will be open for children to visit for free every day of the festive period, between noon and 4pm on weekdays – staying open until 7pm on Thursdays for the late-night shopping – and between 10pm and 4pm Saturdays and noon until 2pm on Sundays, up until December 23.

“It’s just a lovely thing to do for the community,” said CrownGate centre manager Erica Burlace.

“The children love it, the adults love it – and the traders love it too, as it gets people out and down to the shops in the run-up to Christmas.”