LOCAL charities in Ross-on-Wye will benefit from the funds raised when children of all ages flocked to visit Santa in his grotto at Labels Shopping on the outskirts of Ross-on-Wye before Christmas.

Santa was ably assisted by several elves from the Ross-on-Wye Rotary Club and various pantomime characters and festive friends from the Ross based young theatre group, X-entricity.

The grotto itself was designed and built by Chrissie Ellis, a Labels colleague.

Over £500 was raised and the proceeds are going to local charities supported by the Ross Rotary Club who worked in conjunction with the store on the project.