SAINT Nicholas will begin the Christmas countdown in style when he arrives in Harwich by lifeboat.

The patron saint of sailors is getting set to come ashore to mark the start of the town’s festive celebrations.

Every year crowds of families flock to the Ha’penny Pier to witness the precursor to Santa Claus make his magnificent arrival.

The tradition was originally brought to the town by the Reverend Erwin Lammens from Belgium.

In Belgium, Holland and Switzerland, children get their presents on the feast of St Nicholas on December 6.

St Nicholas arrives ashore on a boat from Spain, according to the continental story.

The Reverend Astrid Tiesema said: “St Nicholas will make his usual arrival at the pier, where people will be able to greet him.

“He will be greeted by a band and the deputy mayor of Harwich, as well as myself and my colleagues.

“We will all travel up to St Nicholas Church for a service.

“This really does kick off the Christmas season for many people in the town.

“The children always look forward to the sweets, which will be handed out, and we will hear the story of St Nicholas.”

However, this will be the second year running that St Nicholas makes the journey to Harwich without his trusted friend and controversial accomplice, Black Peter.

According to stories, the character would climb down chimneys to leave a bundle of sticks or salt, instead of presents, when children were naughty.

He was axed from the event last year after organisers were unable to find a black person willing to portray him.

There has been an ongoing debate in Holland as to whether the character of Black Peter is racist, with his origins disputed betw een historians.

Some say he was a slave freed by St Nicholas before becoming his lifelong companion, others say his face is black to symbolise soot from climbing down chimneys.

This will be the second time in the past 12 years that St Nicholas arrives without Black Peter at his side.

The Rev Astrid Tiesema added: “We did have a person who was happy to do it but recently she said she was not willing to do it again and we stopped it.”

St Nicholas will arrive on Harwich’ s lifeboat on Saturday, December 3, at 2pm.