Grinch on a scooter boosts festive parade takings

The Grinch has helped boost the takings for a charity Santa run that has been touring the streets across parts of Nottinghamshire.

The grumpy green character, who drove a brightly lit mobility scooter, was added to this year's Beeston Santa's Sleigh, run by the local Round Table group.

Rob Powley, who dressed up as the ill-tempered misanthrope, said the group introduced the role to alert locals of the parade.

As a result, the parade raised a record amount during their tours of Beeston and the surrounding areas, taking £6,891.

Mr Powley said the annual parade raised money to run the group and back local campaigns.

Round Table groups are non-political and non-religious, and organise events for young men, while supporting local communities and charities.

Mr Powley said the group identified that locals were unaware when the parade was travelling past, and so decided to use The Grinch to pre-warn families who might have wanted to watch Santa's colourfully-lit sleigh.

"The reaction's been fantastic," he said. "We've seen a lot more engagement and I think for a lot of the routes we've seen more people out on the street.

"We need to let people know we're coming and I think generally everyone's liked seeing The Grinch.

"I think in some places he's been more popular than Santa."

Pictures of The Grinch circulated on social media, with many praising the festive addition.

"It's been a really good year," Mr Powley said. "Getting close to the £7,000 target is amazing.

"I'd like to think The Grinch had something to do with it, but I'm certainly not taking all the credit."

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