Hundreds of children eagerly gathered round for Father Christmas to arrive so he could reveal a department store’s festive display.

Youngsters were picked up outside Williams and Griffin in Colchester yesterday morning for an open-top bus ride to the town’s zoo.

After touring round the town and visiting the zoo, the bus returned for the children to begin tearing down the wrapping paper covering the store’s front window which had hidden an animated Christmas scene.

Julie Hayward, the store’s merchandising director, said: “We had a lot of crowds waiting for Santa - people came from quite a distance. It’s been going on for as long as I can remember and I think it’s more popular than ever.”

The 150 or so children then had a chance to see Father Christmas in his grotto in the store.