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Fury as thugs pelt Santa with stones and eggs

22/12/2004

HEARTLESS hooligans pelted a sleigh-riding Santa with stones and eggs as he treated little children to Christmas treats.

Clad in his fluffy red suit and long white beard, Santa - played by a 67-year-old Oswaldtwistle man - was happily chatting with toddlers and parents when a shower of stones crashed against his sleigh.

He was travelling along Haworth Street, near Rhyddings High School, when the attack happened, during the annual charity collection organised by Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club.

Santa, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprecussions, said: "It was absolutely disgusting. Don't these idiots realise the damage they do?

"We're always treated so well by the young children and it's always a delight to see their smiling faces.

"But being attacked in this way was just astonishing. They were mindless hooligans looking for trouble and I found it very difficult to control my temper."

He said a group of Rotarians confronted the teenagers but were met with "a storm of abuse and foul language". The gang refused to leave the parade alone and followed it along Union Road to the Black Dog pub.

There, astonishingly, a second group of youths turned up and hurled eggs at Santa and his helpers.

"We couldn't believe it," he said. "We have had trouble from youngsters in the past but never anything as bad. Kids have tried to steal sweets from the sleigh before but this was despicable and very intimidating. There are nearly 20 of us who go out on cold nights to bring some Christmas magic to the area. But we wonder why we bother when this happens.

"Abuse like this doesn't just impact on us; it affects our charity fund-raising. We all love parading with the sleigh.

"Seeing the little ones enjoy it so much makes it worthwhile, but no-one should have to put with abuse like that. These youngsters need taking in hand."