SANTA Claus has been given the heave ho by a local toddlers' group...because he was frightening the children.

Organisers told Father Christmas to stay in Lapland this year and gave his job to a red suited rival instead.

And yesterday there was hardly a tear in sight as Teletubby Po handed out presents to about 40 babies and toddlers at an otherwise traditional Christmas party.

After years of working with toddlers, organiser Toni Bateman noticed a large number of babies and young children are simply scared stiff of Santa Claus and burst into tears whenever he comes near.

So this year she decided to block up the chimney and stop him dropping in on the party at the Community Education Service building in the centre of Ramsbottom where she holds twice weekly toddler sessions.

She said: "Every time I do a party I end with kids clinging to me screaming and crying because they are frightened of Father Christmas.

"Older children like him because they understand all about Christmas but a lot of the little ones just see him as a strange bearded man in a big red suit and they get really worked up.

"Most of the children loved Po. One or two were a bit nervous but not like they would have been with Father Christmas."

Toni's friend Carol McGuire came to the rescue with a Teletubby suit she made for a fancy dress and the children were delighted to have their favourite TV character drop in.

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