A TEENAGER'S Christmas "thank you" has warmed members' hearts at a Bolton charity club.

The BEN told earlier this month how a member of Radcliffe Rotary, dressed as Santa, was stoned by young thugs as he helped raise cash for local worthy causes.

Days later a Rotary Club of Tyldesley member was held up by a gunman and robbed of the takings from their Santa's sleigh as he walked to a bank.

The pre-Christmas crime wave was greeted with dismay. But one youngster has rallied round to show her support for Rotary's Santa's Sleigh tradition.

Jenny Moorcroft, aged 16, of Lymbridge Drive, Blackrod, wrote a letter to members of the Horwich Rotary to praise them for their efforts.

And Jenny believes that the clubs' sleighs, which tour the local towns at Christmas, put "a little smile on every child's face".

Her Christmas message was read out to Horwich Rotary Club members at their special yuletide meeting.

She wrote: "As you travel round the district on your sleigh you must feel flattered knowing the children believe and see you as the real Father Christmas.

"Of course I don't believe now, but I think it is wonderful to believe in the legend."

Horwich Rotarians hope to raise more than £5,000 for local charities and the Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley from this year's collection.

Spokesman John Walkden said they had no intention of stopping their seasonal sleigh because of the attack on the Radcilffe Rotary Santa.

He added: "It was lovely to hear from a youngster who was so pleased with what we do. We have no intention of calling a halt to our Santa's sleigh and we will continue to raise the money every year."

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