THE Rotary Club of Leigh has praised the 'generosity' of residents after they donated more than £14,000 in its Santa's Sleigh tours for the second year in a row.

St. Nicholas rode his sleigh on the streets of Leigh and Lowton for four weeks across November and December as well as stopping at supermarkets to give children the chance to see him before his busiest day of the year.

Residents dug deep to donate £14,000.70 to the rotary on the tours which was close to matching last year's record of £14,250.

Club president Brian Mills said: “The people of Leigh and Lowton have once again been so generous, especially at such difficult financial times."

The street tour started in the Warrington Road area on Tuesday, November 28, with Santa visiting Lowton/St Helens Road from the bypass on his sleigh the following night and then Pennington South on the Thursday.

The following week he went to Chapel Street/Manchester Road on the Monday, the Westleigh area on the Tuesday, Pennington North on the Wednesday and Leigh town centre and nearby streets on the Thursday.

On Monday, December 11, Santa and his sleigh visited the Newton Road area of Lowton.

The following night they were at Firs Lane/the lower part of Wigan Road before going to Higher Folds on the Tuesday, the upper part of Wigan Road on the Thursday and Hayman Avenue on the Friday.

The final stop was at The Avenue/Holden Road areas on Monday, December 18.

The sleigh was also at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury on the Sundays of November 26 and December 3, 10 and 17, Asda Leigh Supercentre on the Saturdays of November 25 and December 9, Bradshawgate in Leigh on Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2, Morrisons at Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 19 and 20, and Tesco Extra at The Loom in Leigh on Saturday, December 16.