FATHER Christmas was spotted picking a few last-minute Christmas presents for staff, patients and families supported by Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham town centre last week.

Shops, restaurants and cafes throughout the town generously donated a sack-full of gifts, and on Friday Mr and Mrs Claus popped into the hospice to distribute their stash.

It is the second year in a row Old St Nick has visited Farnham in association with Paul Adams of Branston Adams accountants, whose wife passed away at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in 1997, aged just 27, after a battle with brain cancer.

Paul, 53, said: “I am a great believer in giving back to and supporting the local community; so it seemed natural to combine my support for Phyllis Tuckwell and helping out as Santa at local schools and churches.

“We just walked around town asking for donations for people at the hospice who don’t normally get gifts and the response was tremendous.

“We had 20 or 30 shops all donate something - from coffee and cake to suit hire, flowers and all stations in between - and handed out chocolates and little gifts to children. It was fantastic.”

Paul has thanked all the businesses who donated gifts, including meals for two at Loch Fyne and Traditional Plaice, fruit cakes from Cook and Loaf, a tailored shirt from Room 10, suit hire at John Goodridge, a child’s hair cut and mini-manicure at Spikes & Curls, coffee and bacon butties at Barrista, coffee and cake from the Downing St Deli, vouchers for the Ceramics Cafe, Smallbone Butchers and Loncherie, and sweets from Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shop.

The Establishment also donated a full make-over, while The Frame Centre offered a silver photo frame, Craft and Cocktail tapas and wine, Gardenia Flowers a table decoration, La Femme a massage, The Wheatsheaf two bottles of wine, Farnham Whole Foods a goodie bag and Top Spanish (Olga Bichara) Spanish lessons.

Paul is also good pals with the Easter bunny and “strongly suspects” the chocolate-loving rabbit will pay a visit to Farnham town centre again this year.

Vanessa Beech, corporate fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell, said: “We are so grateful to Santa and his helper for the generous gifts they delivered to the hospice.

“His visit lifted the spirits of many of our patients and their families this Christmas, so many thanks to Branston Adams for organising this treat and, of course, all the businesses in Farnham who generously donated gifts to make this possible.

“We are reliant on the generosity of our local community and this is just one great example of the support we receive from Farnham businesses and shows a real Christmas spirit.”