FATHER Christmas and his reindeer friends are getting ready to spread festive cheer in Harwich while raising cash for good causes.

Harwich and Dovercourt Rotary Club will be carrying out Christmas collections by visiting local streets and shops with Santa and Rudolf.

The collections start on November 25 and carry on until Christmas Eve.

Money raised from the effort will be handed to local organisations, including Teen Talk Harwich.

Cash will also be donated to help hurricane victims in Haiti.

Rotary Club spok esman Tony Burrows said: “We do it for the children of the town and each year we get to see children's faces come running to their windo ws for the collections.

“It really is a magical time of the year for them, and their eyes almost pop out of their heads among the excitement.”

The Christmas collections have been run by the club for more than 15 years.

Last year the rotarians raised £4,000 for local and inter national charities.

Mr Burrows added: “All those fit enough to walk in the Rotary Club get involved.

“I think near ly 100 per cent of our members take part.”

Santa and Rudolf will be holding their street collections from 5.30pm on various nights in the build up to Christmas.

They will be in Pound Farm Drive and Vines Estate areas on December 6 before visiting Abdy Avenue, Mayes Lane and surrounding areas on December 7.

On December 8 the collection will take place in the Gravel Hill Way and Dovercour t Bay Estate areas and in the Waddesdon Road and Bathside areas on December 13.

There will be further collections in Parkeston on December 14, the Hightrees Estate area on December 15, and King George’s Avenue area on December 16.

Other collections will take place at B&M on November 25, Dovercourt Market on December 16, Morrisons on December 17, Asda on December 19 and 22 and Co-op on December 20.