Trowbridge Lions are appealing for volunteers to help collect funds to help local communities this Christmas as Santa rides around the town on his sleigh.

The club says it’s smaller than it has been in previous years and its members are a little older and unable to provide the resources to cover the whole town without help.

Joint club president Richard Culverhouse said they have already received 60-plus responses from residents to their appeal for volunteers.

He added: “It’s only October but Trowbridge Lions are starting to plan the Christmas Float for this year.

“We have already had 60-plus volunteers come forward so we are doing well.

“This year the Club is smaller than it has been in previous years (and a little older) and we will not be able to do as many routes as in previous years.

“It’s always difficult to decide which areas to collect in and which we do not have the resources to cover.

“This year we are changing the way we collect, any estate that wants a visit from Santa’s sleigh will need to provide us with a team of collectors - we will provide the sleigh, sleigh driver, team leader/navigator and, of course, Santa.

“Studley Green has already kindly sourced two teams so the whole estate will be visited this year.

“A team of collectors is 6-8 adults over 16, who must be capable of walking 4-5 miles in two hours.

“Collections will take place between 6pm and 8pm on a weekday evening. Children are welcome to accompany collectors but must be accompanied by a responsible guardian.

Lions Clubs are volunteer organisations and all money collected is directed back into the local community and to International relief projects.

The club added: “The Christmas collections are a very important source of income to the Lions Club allowing us to support many local people in these difficult times.

“If your community/area/estate is able to assist us and provide a team of collectors please contact us via our website.

“If you would just like to be involved but don’t have a team then please call as well we are always looking for additional collectors at this time of year.”

Trowbridge Lions Club is part of Lions International, the largest voluntary service organisation in the world with more than 1.3 million members with 46,000 clubs in 202 countries.

There are 970 Clubs in towns, cities and villages throughout the British Isles and Ireland.