A SOCIAL media personality from Kidderminster has stepped up to the plate - or in this case, the sleigh - to give local children a chance to see Santa this Christmas.

After hearing that local sleigh tours had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Adam Woodhouse ordered a £90 Santa's suit from Amazon and turned his expertise building campervans to making a sleigh.

Known best by his social media followers as Kiddy Lad, Adam is halfway through a seven-day tour of Kidderminster and Stourport, which has seen hundreds of people each night lining the streets to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus.

Adam, 40, told The Shuttle: "Each year we do a Christmas video, a music video or we recreate an iconic film, but this year I looked at the situation and thought there's not going to be many Santas going around this year because of Covid.

"I was thinking back to the 80s as a kid, seeing Santa coming up the estate, and it was magical for me.

"I thought we can't have that, there's always been a Santa's sleigh in Kidderminster. If they're not going to do it, I'll do it."

Kidderminster Shuttle: The Grinch following Santa's sleigh around Kidderminster. Photo by Daniel Bragg/Advertiser and Shuttle Camera ClubThe Grinch following Santa's sleigh around Kidderminster. Photo by Daniel Bragg/Advertiser and Shuttle Camera Club

Local businesses helped make the sleigh tour a reality by donating materials, sweets, a public announcement system, generator and a car to pull the sleigh.

Kiddy Lad and his team (which includes Laura Hood as the Grinch!) have so far taken the sleigh around Habberley, Comberton, Offmore, Sion Hill and Spennells, and will be visiting Birchen Coppice and the Rifle Range on Friday, the Horsefair on Saturday and finally Stourport on Sunday.

Any money given by residents on the rounds will be donated to MIND mental health charity.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Kiddy Lad Adam Woodhouse as Santa, touring the streets of Kidderminster. Photo by SMART PhotographyKiddy Lad Adam Woodhouse as Santa, touring the streets of Kidderminster. Photo by SMART Photography

Adam said: "It's been massive. The response has been really good. We've had hundreds of people standing on both sides of the streets every night waiting for us. The support has been amazing.

"We've been socially-distancing as much as we can and the police have been great. They've been keeping an eye on us but they haven't got in the way at all.

"As we come round the corner, people have been clapping and cheering. To see kids coming out and some of them in their wheelchairs with glow sticks and shaking bells has just been amazing.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Laura Hood dressed as the Grinch, following Santa on his sleigh around Kidderminster. Photo by SMART PhotographyLaura Hood dressed as the Grinch, following Santa on his sleigh around Kidderminster. Photo by SMART Photography

"It's something a bit different than your typical Santa. Some of them can be a bit boring. But how many people can say they've seen a drum and bass Santa?

"It’s been a terrible year for everyone so if I can do something to make people laugh, that's job done for me."

Adam has been filming videos of his comedy character Dan Evans, AKA Kiddy Lad, for 10 years, and is now working on a fly on the wall mockumentary, 24 Hour Carpet People, about a man trying to find a job in Kidderminster after lockdown.

Search Kiddy Lad on social media channels.