Nottinghamshire County Council chairman Sue Saddington visits the Newark Castle Rotary Club's Santa's grotto

A popular Santa's grotto had a visit from the chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Mrs Sue Saddington, and her family on Saturday.

Mrs Saddington was accompanied by her grandson William, 10, and his mother Caroline Saddington.

The grotto has been run by Newark Castle Rotary Club who started the project more than 25 years ago and have raised more than £30,000 for charity.

This year it was held in the former YMCA shop unit in The Buttermarket shopping centre.

It opened on the Christmas lights switch-on in the town and has been held on Saturdays and some Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.

It is now closed until Santa returns next year.

Rotarian Mr David Carrott said it had been extremely popular with children able to spend time with Father Christmas and each leaving with a small gift.

The youngest visitors have been four-month-old twins. Their visitors have included a dog who had chews on its wish list.

"Many of the children asked for slime but lego has been top of the list," said Mr Carrott.

Money raised from the grotto will be given to the Newark-based Children's Bereavement Centre, Rainbows Children's Hospice at Loughborough and the Orchard School in Newark.