Dean Houston McKelvey has begun his charity sit-out

Dean Houston McKelvey plans to sit outside St Anne's Cathedral until Christmas Eve, continuing a tradition started by his predecessors.

The charity vigil has raised more than �2.8m since Dean Sammy Crooks first began the collection in 1976.

Last year's sit-out raised �200,000 in the week before Christmas but was then extended to raise money for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami on Boxing Day.

The dean said he hoped to raise as much again this year.

Dean Houston first sat out for Christmas four years ago, following in the wake of his predecessor Dean Jack Shearer, who died in January 2001.

He was initially dubbed Black Santa by the media because of his distinctive clothing, and the name caught on among the public.

This is the 29th year of the appeal, which raises money for various charities in Northern Ireland as well as Christian Aid.