A CHRISTMAS tradition will still be starting again in Oswestry on Wednesday, albeit with a Covid-19 -enforced difference.

The Oswestry Cambrian Rotary Sleigh, with its own Santa, is on schedule to start the drive through the streets of Oswestry, St Martins, Gobowen, West Felton, Whittington and Park Hall for the children to see Santa and get a wave.

But the Rotary club say it will be far from what they have managed in the past because of the pandemic and the need to protect Santa, club members and the public.

Mike Lade, from Cambrian Rotary, said: "This year Santa and the sleigh will not be stopping in the evenings when we tour the streets because it would be irresponsible of us to risk attracting crowds of adults and children on street corners like we have done before.

"There will not be any opportunities to take photos in the evenings.

"Our routes are available on our “Oswestry Santa Sleigh” Facebook page and each night we are out we show our tracker details so people can see where we are.

"We will have our music playing so hopefully you will hear the sleigh in your area.

"Please remember the tracker is reliant upon a mobile phone signal that can be difficult in some areas.

"This year we will not be knocking on doors to collect money either. Instead, we are asking for parents and children to meet a “socially-distanced” Santa in the Sleigh at our static sites to take their photos where donation buckets will be available."

Mr Lade added he is expecting to take a smaller amount in donations in 2020 compared to previous years but says a Just Giving page is available at www.justgiving.com/rotary-oswestrycambrian for further help.

They also have text numbers for phone donations: text 10, 5, 2, 1 (depending on donation) oswsanta to 70085.

For the Christmas sleigh times, head to www.oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk/santa_sleigh.htm