Santa will have to pass a series of tests

Angus and Dundee Tourist Board is inviting hopefuls to try out for the post before a panel of judges.

Potential Santas will be provided with an outfit and have two minutes to impress the experts.

The winner will appear at tourist information centres throughout the festive season.

Dr Colin Smith, tourist board chief executive and Santa Idol judge, said he was hopeful of finding the right man for the job.

He added: "We usually have a Santa lined up to appear at our centres in Dundee and Arbroath in December, but unfortunately he can't make it this year since he's been seconded to Santa HQ at the North Pole to maintain the database of over six billion customers and to plan distribution routes for Christmas Eve delivery.

"We're staging Santa Idol to find a suitable Santa as a result."

'Ho ho ho' test

As well as appearing at tourist information points, the successful Santa will also be given the task of spreading Christmas cheer from his grotto as well as promoting tourist board gifts including calendars, books, sweets and biscuits.

Potential recruits will be assessed on their;

• general jolliness

• their "ho, ho, ho flair"

• whether or not they suit the colour red

• and their ringing bell skills

A pair of husky dogs, which will help pull Santa around on his sleigh, will also have to give their approval before the final "idol" is selected.

Jillian Ogston, also on the panel of judges, said: "Unlike Pop Idol our successful Santa will not receive a million pound record contract, but we can guarantee that he'll be a Christmas number one."