SMITHS Orchard Garden Centre on Chadwell Road in Grays, played host to a visit by youngsters from Woodview Academy this morning (Monday, 19 December).

As well as enjoying the wide range of Christmas decorations on display throughout the centre, the children were then able to visit Santa in his grottoe.

Over the past couple of weeks Santa has been welcoming visitors to the centre and money collected will be distributed to good causes. Last year the grotto raised £950 which was split between the Kids First Cerebral Palsy charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital.