THERE will be a lot of disappointed children this year as the famous Turton Rotary Club Father Christmas and sleigh will not be touring the streets of North Bolton.

The sleigh is a huge attraction in the lead up to Christmas but Rotarians have been left devastated by the news that it is unroadworthy and therefore not safe to go out on the streets.

Jeff Hibbert, chairman of the club's community services committee, which deals with the sleigh, said it was a huge shock to discover the sleigh could not be used, just days before its first planned outing on Friday.

He said: "It was taken in last week just to have the brakes looked at, but we were told that the sleigh was unroadworthy. If anything had happened we would not have been covered by insurance, so we couldn't take that risk.

"It is a real blow as the sleigh is one of the highlights of the year and unfortunately it is too close to Christmas to sort out a replacement. The sleigh is about 30 years old so it has served us well."

Turton, supported by Bolton-le-Moors Rotary Club, will go ahead as planned with manning local supermarkets and have decided to still tour the streets with just the liveried RRG Toyota vehicle that is used to pull the sleigh.

Mr Hibbert added: "We will dress it up with lights and music playing and have Father Christmas in the back. We want to have some presence but we will just have to see how it goes.

"I know it is not the same, as it is quite magical for the youngsters to see Santa's sleigh coming round the estates, but we hope the people of Bolton will give their support.

"We are still hopeful of another successful year with donations and I can assure everyone that every penny collected will go towards worthy charities.

“The club's Christmas Sleigh Appeal has been in operation for many years, and we are very proud of the fact that more than £260,000 has been raised in that time. We raised more than £8000 in 2014 after another bumper year of donations and Rotarians are hoping that despite the setback we can still raise a substantial amount in 2015."

Santa and his snowmen will be at following venues:

Friday November 27 Asda, Astley Bridge, 11am-5pm; St Annes, Chapeltown, 6pm; Barlow Institute, Edgworth, 6.30pm.

Saturday, November 28 Morrisons at Breightmet; Sunday, November 29 Coop at Bromley Cross; Tuesday, December 1, Hall'i'th Wood Estate; Wednesday, December 3, Egerton area; Friday, December 4, Morrisons at Chorley Old Road; Saturday, December 5, Morrisons at Harwood; Sunday, December 6 Morrisons at Chorley Old Road.

Monday, December 7 Oldhams Estate; Tuesday, December 8, Templecombe Drive Area; Wednesday, December 9, Bradshaw Meadows and Lea Gate; Saturday, December 12, Morrisons at Breightmet 11am-4pm. Dunscar Conservative Club 4.30-5.30pm.

Sunday, December 13, Morrisons Harwood 11am-4pm. Dunscar Golf Club 4.30 -5.30pm.

Monday, December 14, Turton Heights; Tuesday, December 15, Holden Ave area; Wednesday, December 16, Bromley Cross 5.30-8pm; Saturday, December 19, Coop Bromley Cross; Sunday, December 20, Asda Astley Bridge; Monday, December 21, Morrison at Breightmet, and Tuesday, December 22, Asda Astley Bridge.