EXCITED children and their parents were already queuing when Father Christmas arrived at his grotto in the Chequers Shopping Centre, Maidstone, on Saturday.

To the surprise of some, Santa decided to arrive in the county town in an open top vintage red Rolls Royce instead of in his traditional reindeer-pulled sleigh.

But none of his magic was lost on the children he greeted in his splendidly decorated grotto from noon onwards. The grotto will be open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays, until Christmas Eve. On late night shopping days Santa will be staying on until 8pm.