VILLAGERS turned up in force to welcome Father Christmas on the last leg of his fundraising tour of Thurrock this afternoon.

The Rotary Club of Mar Dyke Valley have been taking their sleigh around the region's streets for the last three weeks and traditionally they end up with a tour of Bulphan and the Bonners Estate in Orsett.

As he got ready to set off on his final journey of 2019 Santa had a message of goodwill for local folk - catch him on the video!