Meet York’s newest attraction – a supersize Santa who is taller than a house!
The giant inflatable Father Christmas has appeared on Hodgson Lane in Poppleton, opposite the Lord Collingwood pub – and people love him.
He went up briefly last year but came down again after just five days due to the Boxing Day storms.
And the stupendous Santa is doing more than just raising a smile – he’s raising cash for Martin’s House hospice too. You can donate at the house or online here.
Homeowner Peter Routledge is responsible for the Santa, who takes about ten minutes to inflate using a bouncy castle pump.
“He’s eight metres tall. His hat is taller than our two storey house,” Peter told David Dunning on YorkMix Radio.
The response has been “overwhelmingly positive – even from the neighbours!
“We get a lot of people stopping and smiling and people bringing their kids and taking photos.”
There is also a snow machine at the house, which people can operate using a foot button.
Where to see giant Santa
Santa was taken down as a precaution during Storm Barra, but he is well secured.
“We’ve got four big bolts into the house and the wall to the side of our driveway. And then there’s four big straps that come down from the top that also need to be tied off once he’s inflated and gone up.”
Peter’s two boys helped helped put up their Christmas decorations. Santa is the biggest ever – “I have been informed by my wife we will be divorced if I buy anything larger!”