SANTA may be washed up in London's West End stores but he was riding on the crest of a wave of public support when he arrived in Poole on Sunday.

Excited youngsters turned out to cheer as Santa made his traditional entrance to the borough aboard the town's inshore lifeboat. Alighting on the Quay outside the old Customs House, the jolly gentleman was joined by the stars of the Lighthouse Christmas pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, including Dame Chris Hayward and Prince Matthew Rixon.

They boarded a horse-drawn carriage to join the Christmas carnival procession from the quayside through the High Street to officially open the revamped Dolphin Centre where Santa took up residence in his grotto.

Led by the Dolphin Marching Band and Dorchester Band the procession featured a variety of characters including children's cartoon favourites the Rugrats, snowmen, street entertainers, majorettes and stilt walkers.

Youngsters and their carers from Julia's House, the Dorset children's hospice service, who rode in the procession in a land train, earned a special cheer and profits from the sale of Santa hats during the day will be given to the charity.

More young faces will be lit up on Thursday when a lantern procession from Scaplen's Court to Falkland Square precedes the switching on of the Christmas lights at 7pm.