Christmas Day may be a couple of weeks away but that hasn't stopped Santa Claus from making an early arrival in Monklands to bring festive cheer to families.
The XACT organisation's popular Santa's Sleigh tour is doing the rounds across Airdrie and Coatbridge and as well as delivering gifts and fun to local children, the event has also raised more than £150,000 for charities over the past 16 years.
Sleigh stops are advertised in advance on the group's Facebook page and many communities have already been lucky enough to be wowed by Santa's arrival.
An XACT spokesman told Lanarkshire Live : "Santa's Sleigh has been active in Airdrie and Coatbridge for around 60 years, although the current format was introduced by the present team around 16 years ago with a new sleigh being built thanks to the assistance of the Scottish Prison Service.
"Since the new sleigh took to the streets to bring the joy to both young and old, it never ceases to amaze Santa when he sees the special glint in everyone's eyes.
"The team have also raised more than £150,000 over the past 16 years - and that’s without doing the sleigh routes during the pandemic.
"This money has been put back to the community through various organisations in support of local good causes and charities which don't get mainstream funding.
"It’s a win-win scenario for our community as we bring Christmas cheer as we do our tour and also collect and donate to great causes."
Group chairman Iain Jamieson added: "As an organisation we are very proud to work with the partner firms who support XACT - Inver House Distillers Ltd and Fleetbid - who continue to back us by supplying the reindeer van throughout December.
"Their help is absolutely invaluable and we all wish to thank them very much."
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