Santa back with police protection

A police escort is to accompany Santa Claus after yobs pelted him with stones during a parade last year.

Santa was left with a bruised head after one of the stones hit him as he rode through the village of Glemsford, in Suffolk, on his sleigh.

Two beat bobbies are to escort him during the procession to make sure the event is not marred.

A police spokesman said: "We are going to be in the village to ensure there isn't a breach of the peace."

Glemsford School head Liz Steele said: "It won't be a case of riot shields and batons.

"After last year they said they would support us by coming round the village and making sure everything was OK," she said.

This year's event is to take place on 12 December to raise funds for the school and the East Anglian Children's Hospice.