MORE than 100 volunteers have been thanks for acting as Santa’s helpers during Christmas.

Many gave their time to make Lymm Rotary Club’s festive float a success and now the club has hosted a presentation night to say thank you.

The float was out over 15 evenings in December, collecting for charity.

President Geoff Stocker said: “We could not fulfil our commitment to the local communities without the help of our volunteers. Lymm’s Rotary float is a part of village life and has been for the past thirty years.

“As well as being a good fundraiser, it enables us to tour the streets and meet many friends who are waiting for the float, and Santa, to arrive.

“Often children are queueing to talk and to hand in letters for Santa.

“This can make it hard for us to keep to a schedule but we believe that this is an essential part of our service”.

Volunteers are drawn from groups including, Scouts, Guides, Lymm Youth Club., Lymm High School, Gendai and many others.

At the presentation evening each group received a donation based on the number of evenings on which their volunteers attended.

Mr Stoker added: “This year we have benefitted from a group of mainly new drivers who have towed the float around the district. This is not always easy but our drivers have done an excellent job and their chosen charities will also receive a donation.”

In addition to street collections, the float attended Abbey Leys, Dickensian Day and static collections were held at Sainsbury’s in Rushgreen Road and in Warrington town centre.

Part of this year’s collection will be used to fund a Senior Citizen’s Party at Statham Lodge Hotel in February when the club hopes to feed and entertain around 150 residents with appearances from Lymm Adivas and a rock musician.

Mr Stocker said: “We shall also have funds to respond to requests for help from local groups who have projects which need financial assistance.

“Finally, we must thank the residents of Lymm, Thelwall and Warrington for their support, generosity and kindness over the Christmas.

“With help from club members, local volunteers & the local community, we hope to continue these collections for another30 years.”