Dean Houston McKelvey has raised �130,000 in three days

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

The annual 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. It was then extended to raise money for victims of the Boxing Day tsunami.

'Encourage'

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

"We hope that this year's response will encourage many others to make their way to the Cathedral steps and help us ensure that in this 29th year, we will continue to be able to help over 130 charities and groups which have written to us for help," he said.

"The more our good folk give, the more groups in our community we can help."

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.