CHRISTMAS came early to Darlington town centre today (Sunday, November 29) as thousands of people lined the streets to welcome a special visitor.
Santa Claus and his reindeer swooped into town with their sleigh, accompanied by the Cockerton Band who set the festive atmosphere with traditional Christmas tunes.
The parade set off from the Tubwell Row entrance of the Cornmill Shopping Centre before travelling along High Row to give the crowds of visitors young and old the chance to give Santa a wave.
The parade returned to the Cornmill to allow youngsters to get closer to the cairngorm reindeer and meet Santa in his grotto.
Despite some prior opposition from animal lovers upset at the use of live reindeer in the parade - which led to the creation of an online petition that attracted over 400 signatures - the event passed off without any visible protest.
The parade followed Darlington’s Christmas lights switch-on ceremony on Thursday and is part of a series of festive events taking place in the town centre in the run up to Christmas, including seasonal markets, a visit from a group of Humboldt penguins and carol singing.
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