THE weeks before Christmas are Santa's busiest time of the year by far - and he is set to be working harder than ever in Settle.

Settle's Rotary Club members have managed to help him find time in his busy schedule to be at the town's Christmas lights switch-on Saturday, December 2.

And he will be in his grotto in Settle Market Place from 2pm, leading up to the big switch-on at about 5pm.

Santa is also set to tour the area with his Rotary Club helpers throughout December, helping to raise cash for dozens of charities.

Rotary president Derek Coultherd said: "I hope everyone will take advantage of Santa’s schedule to come and see him at the Christmas Lights switch-on, and again when he is touring the local area or at Booths supermarket on Saturdays in December.

"He does like to meet children of all ages.This is the occasion when we collect for local charities, individuals and good causes. We gave out over £14,000 last year to nearly 40 local charities, groups, societies and individuals.”

Santa will be touring the area with his Rotarian helpers on the following dates, starting from 5pm unless shown otherwise, in village alphabetical order - Austwick Monday December 11; Clapham, Monday December 11, from 6pm after his visit to Austwick; Giggleswick village, Wednesday December 13; Giggleswick, The Mains, Friday December 15, after his visit to Stackhouse; Hellifield, railway station and north of the railway bridge, Tuesday December 5; Hellifield, south of the railway bridge, Wednesday December 6; Helwith Bridge, Monday December 18, after his visit to Horton; Horton, Monday December 18; Langcliffe, Thursday December 21;

Long Preston, Monday December 4; Rathmell, Tuesday December 12; Stackhouse: Friday December 15; Stainforth, Monday December 18, 6.30pm, after his visit to Horton and Helwith Bridge; Wigglesworth, Tuesday December 12, 6pm after his visit to Rathmell.

Santa will visit Booths Settle supermarket on Saturday December 9 and Saturday December 16, 10am-4pm. The areas of Settle he will be going to are

Upper Settle and Longdale Avenue, Thursday December 7; Mill Close and Northfields, Friday December 8; Duke Street and Cammock Lane, Monday December 19; Townhead, Church Street Duke Street and Kings Mill, Tuesday December 20.