SANTA is making an early appearance at a garden centre this weekend.

Father Christmas will be at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury in a bright red 1930s Chevrolet Sports Roadster at 10am on Saturday.

The Warrington Road centre, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary, is arranging for the classic car to transport the big man in the red suit in the same year as it was made in the same decade the family-run business was made.

St. Nicholas will be at the centre right up until Christmas Eve where he will be walking round meeting the children and handing out special Christmas badges.

On December 9 and 10, Bents will be having its Festive Family Fun Weekend from 11am to 4pm on both days.

As well as Santa and his real reindeer, there will be entertainment such as fairground rides, the arrival of its forest of real trees and hot punch and mince pies sold for Bents' Charity of the Year.

Every Monday there will be festive-themed bauble painting from 9am to 11am which can be booked by visiting bents.co.uk.

There will also be a reindeer-themed treasure hunt throughout the centre during the festive period with its winter food market serving European food up to Friday, December 22 which is open daily from noon.