YOBS targeted Santa as he brought festive cheer to an estate’s children, forcing the sleigh parade to be cancelled.

The teenagers shouted obscenities, got on to the sleigh, tugged at Santa’s costume and hurled abuse at volunteers manning the charity Father Christmas float on the Johnson Fold Estate on Wednesday evening.

The abuse forced organisers Bolton Lions Club and The Rotary Club of Bolton Lever to cancel the rest of the procession.

Future visits to the neighbourhood have been put in jeopardy unless the residents association can provide protection for the crew of 10, including the driver and donation collectors, who accompany the decorated trailer.

Marjorie Hayward, president of the Rotary Club, said: “The first part was fine. The atmosphere was lively and the children loved it.

“Then four lads appeared, probably aged about 13, and began to shout: ‘You’re just a man dressed up. We don’t believe you’.

“They shouted obscenities and made sexual gestures. It was so unpleasant.

“I would call them attention-seeking boys. They thought it was a game.”

Some of volunteers politely confronted the youngsters and tried to shepherd them away.

But the four teens became angry and followed the sleigh and verbally accosted the team for the next half an hour, eventually clambering onto the slowly-moving brightly-coloured float.

Mrs Hayward said: “They were pulling at Santa’s beard and costume and trying to get the sweets he was giving out to the children.

“John, playing Santa, is an elderly gentleman and he felt very threatened and very scared.

“We got Santa off the sleigh and into a car and took him away.

“The boys were jumping on and off the moving trailer, and we’ve got electrics for the lights and music, and it became a hazardous situation.

“I would say we were harassed rather than threatened.”

Organisers reluctantly brought an end to the tour at between 7pm and 7.15pm and retreated to a safe place.

Families waiting further up the road, including excited children singing the ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ carol, were left disappointed when the news of the abrupt cancellation spread.

Mrs Hayward said: “We have never cut short a route.

“Johnson Fold gives us the best welcome. More people come out than anywhere else and the children are big-eyed and wondrous.

“It was a sad affair and it’s left all of us feeling bothered and distressed.

“We told the residents association we need protection if we go back onto the estate but it’s a shame when Santa needs to be escorted.”

Johnson Fold Residents’ Association declined to comment.