NOTHING stops Santa in his tracks - not even open heart surgery!

For Malcolm Bridgwater, donning the festive red suit to raise a smile for little ones is the "most beautiful job in the world" and he was determined to get back to his seasonal role as Santa after undergoing a trip heart bypass just before the coronavirus pandemic hit Britain last year.

Malcolm's son, Steve, a market-stall trader who manages Brierley Hill Market, told his dad he was sure he'd be back in his grotto before long to help him with his recovery from the lifesaving surgery in February 2020 - and despite the Covid restrictions he was able to take on the important job briefly and in a limited capacity in the run-up to last Christmas in between lockdowns.

But this year Malcolm, aged 80, was back in full swing as the festive figure - enjoying every minute of his time as Brierley Hill Market's official Santa.

He said: "I always enjoy it, there's nothing like it. It really pulls at your heart strings. It's the most beautiful job in all the world."

The real life Santa Claus even brought a touch of the North Pole with him on grotto opening day at the market which coincided with the first snowfall of the season this year.

Malcolm had reportedly told great-grandson that 'wherever Santa goes - it snows' and on the day the Christmas fair was due to be held in the High Street - the white stuff began to fall.

There was also a sprinkling of snow as he opened his eyes after his surgery, his son told the News, adding: "One of the nurses said to him 'you truly are Santa, look outside, it's snowing'. So we think he is Santa now."

Funds raised from Santa's grotto are donated to charity and last year's opening saw £1,500 donated to Dudley's Christmas toy appeal Operation Santa.

This year funds will also go to the appeal which has now been widened to cover a larger area and renamed Santa's Black Country Toy Appeal.