Full schedule for Newton Aycliffe Christmas Eve Santa tour

Great Aycliffe Town Council say no household in Aycliffe will be more than 500 metres away from one of Santa’s stops on Christmas Eve.

The annual event has been delighting youngsters since 1967 – and relies on volunteers to not only dress up as Saint Nick himself but also drivers and navigators to keep things running on time.

This year, organisers say they have changed arrangements due to the “growing town” and to dodge parked cars on streets.

This means that all five Santas on each route will have longer to pose for pictures with families, and a greater number of people can join in with the magic.

Here are details of the five routes, including timings of where Santa and his sleigh will be on Christmas Eve.

Route one

• 3.55pm to 4.20pm: Aycliffe Village Green at Crossroads DL5 6LX
• 4.25pm to 4.40pm: Bickford Terrace – Aycliffe Village DL5 6LA
• 4.45pm to 4.55pm: High Barns Road – School Aycliffe DL5 6PY
• 5.00pm to 5.25pm: Community Centre – School Aycliffe Car Park DL5 6QH
• 5.30pm to 5.55pm: Bewick Crescent Car Park DL5 5LH

Route two

• 4.00pm to 4.25pm: Playdays Nursery Car Park DL5 5HH
• 4.30pm to 4.55 pm: Neville Community Centre Car Park DL5 5DH
• 5.00pm to 5.25pm: Moore Lane Eco Centre DL5 5AH
• 5.30pm to 5.55pm: Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-day Saints Car Park DL5 5QL
• 6.00pm to 6.25pm: St Oswald’s Park DL5 4BG

Route three

• 4.00pm to 4.25pm: Horndale Post Office/Junction 7 Car Park DL5 7DZ
• 4.30pm to 4.55pm: West Lake Car Park DL5 7DA
• 5.00pm to 5.25pm: Simpasture Park Play Area DL5 7AQ
• 5.30pm to 5.55pm: Co-op Funeralcare Car Park DL5 4LH
• 6.00pm to 6.55pm: Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre Car Park DL5 4HT

Route four

• 4.00pm to 4.25pm: Byerley Park School Gates DL5 7LE
• 4.30pm to 4.55pm: Scout’s Hut Car Park DL5 7PW
• 5.00pm to 5.25pm: Turbinia Car Park DL5 7PA
• 5.30pm to 5.55pm: Agnew Community Centre Car Park DL5 4QZ

Route five

• 4.00pm to 4.25pm: PCP Car Park DL5 4SF
• 4.30pm to 4.55pm: Bluestone Close DL5 4FG
• 5.00pm to 5.25pm: Woodham Golf Club Car Park DL5 4PN
• 5.30pm to 5.55pm: Woodham Community Centre Car Park DL5 4UE

Confirming the timings, the council was eager to re-issue calls for volunteers – a task they say is becoming “increasingly difficult”.

A spokesperson previously said: “It’s such a special event for so many. It wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without it.

“However, we require a number of volunteers to make sure this event can happen.

“Normally, people come back year after year, but people do drop off as you go, and we need to keep filling it up with new volunteers.

“So, we’re appealing for the community to help us. We’re asking anybody who’s willing to volunteer to contact us and put their name on the reserve list.”