Do children still love Father Christmas?

Over the past few weeks two Father Christmases have been assaulted in the Bolton area- one was robbed at gunpoint and another stoned by youngsters.

For over 20 years Santa has ridden his sleigh through the streets of Radcliffe, thanks to the Radcliffe Rotary Club, and raised hundreds of pounds for local charities.

But last week he was ambushed by a gang of children - aged between 10 and 15 - who pelted him with stones.

One child even tried to hit him over the head with an inflatable hammer and others pelted him with eggs. When they ran out of ammunition they went to a shop to buy more, according to club vice-president Frank Nicholson.

Now the Rotary Club is seriously considering scrapping Santa's popular tour of the streets which, says Mr Nicholson, "has brought Christmas magic to little children for more than 20 years."

But not only would that mean children missing out on Santa, the charities would suffer if the float was abandoned.

Two years ago police had to provide outriders to guard Santa after he was attacked touring an estate in Little Hulton. Probably the most disturbing factor of these horror stories is the fact that the culprits are children.

Children who, just a few years ago, would have been waving to Santa themselves as he rode his sleigh through their neighbourhoods.

In another incident a gunman grabbed hundreds of pounds of Santa's Christmas charity cash in broad daylight.

Treasurer of Tyldesley Rotary Club, 64-year-old John Goldsworthy was thrown to the floor as he bravely tried to fight off his attacker in an Atherton alleyway.

But the attacker, who had a hand gun, managed to get away with about £200 which had been raised on the club's Santa sleigh in Tyldesley's Market Square.

Mr Goldsworthy suffered cuts and bruises in the struggle.

But surely Santa is still loved by children everywhere and remains the magical figure he always has been?

To confirm this, the BEN visited Bolton Parish CE Primary School on Kestor Street and spoke to a group of youngsters from the reception class about Father Christmas.

We asked them what kind of a man they think he is, where he lives and what does he have for HIS Christmas dinner.

We also asked them what they think might happen to the children who threw the stones at Santa. MIRIAM HARROLD, aged four, wants a Barbie doll for Christmas: "I know where Father Christmas lives, he lives in the desert.

"He has to wrap up warm because he's flying about on his sleigh all the time. He'll have toast before he goes out and then he'll get on his reindeer and stop on top of houses.

"He has turkey for his dinner and some potatoes and then jelly.

"I would never throw stones at him because he's a good man and I wouldn't get any presents if I was naughty." MICHAEL BOOTH, aged five, would like Beauty and The Beast video: "He lives in a house and has his breakfast and gives carrots to the reindeer.

"He's really busy and gets tired but I leave biscuits for him when he comes down the chimney.

"I pretend to be asleep when he comes but I keep peeping so I can see him - I did once.

"He has sandwiches for his Christmas dinner with turkey on them - lovely turkey sandwiches.

" Those children who threw stones are very naughty and won't get any presents." MOHAMMED QASIM, five, wants an Action Man: "I saw Father Christmas in town but he doesn't live there, he lives a long way off - that's why he needs a sleigh.

"I look up at the sky to see him and I think I did once but he didn't see me, even though I waved.

"He has mince pies for breakfast and some milk and then he'll have some more for his dinner." REBECCA TRACEY, four, wants a Baby Expression doll. Of Father Christmas, she asserted: "He lives in a nice house with snow on the roof - I saw it on telly.

"He has mince pies, toast and wine for his breakfast and then gets his reindeer together and flies off. When he gets to my house he runs down the chimney and leaves my presents.

"He has some more wine before he goes back up the chimney. When he goes home he has meat pie for his Christmas dinner because he's fed up of turkey.

"When it's not Christmas, he's a fireman because he's got a red suit.

"Naughty children won't get any presents." SABAHAT JAVED, four, wants a Barbie doll: "Father Christmas lives somewhere very cold and works hard. He has a rest after Christmas and then starts making toys again." COURTNEY GARLICK, aged four, wants a doll: "Santa lives in a castle on top of a hill and has lots of reindeer.

"He eats cereal and biscuits and drinks tea. He's always laughing because he gets to give presents. When it's not Christmas he's having a lie down because he's tired.

"I would never throw stones at Father Christmas because I love him and it's naughty - he would get hurt."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.