Ho ho ho, what’s all this then?
POLICE PAY SANTA A VISIT AT HIS GROTTO OVER SOCIAL DISTANCING
A MAN who has turned his house into a winter wonderland to raise money for a hospice has been visited by police – while he was dressed as Santa Claus.
Mike Denaro’s home in Fairman Drive, Hindley, Wigan, went viral last month with its extravagant decorations, including thousands of lights, lasers, snow on the garden path, five or six acrylic figures, and a snow machine.
Anyone who makes a trip to look at the house is asked to make a small donation to Wigan and Leigh Hospice.
But despite claiming to have come to an agreement with Wigan Council and a local police officer about socially distanced gatherings outside his home, Mr Denaro said that cops have visited him several times.
“It’s been a nightmare,” he said. “We’ve had loads of people rocking up but it’s all at safe distances. I think some neighbours a bit further down have reported it and them some other people who’ve seen it online have reported it as well.
“The council’s Covid team have come out and said they’re happy for it to continue as long as people social distance and a local bobby said pretty much the same thing.
“We’ve even put Santa’s footprints on the floor to help with social distancing.”
Mr Denaro said on one occasion three police cars turned up in the street, while he was dressed as Father Christmas. A friend filmed the exchange between officers and Mr Denaro on December 12 and posted it on Facebook, where it has been shared more than 300 times. Mr Denaro added: “It’s madness. Someone’s having a hot chocolate in the street and there’s a guy dressed as a turkey and they send three police cars. “It took them 40 minutes to get on the radio and find out that we had already arranged it.
“Surely they have better things to do. It’s not a rave, it’s Santa Claus giving out chocolates to kids.
“It’s been a rubbish year for everybody and we’re trying to make it better but GMP seem to be Grinches that want to spoil the fun.
Sergeant Wesley Walker, of GMP’s Wigan District, added: “Following a report of a planned gathering, three officers attended Fairman Drive and spoke with a number of residents. “There was no enforcement action taken against any persons present and our officers left a short time later.”
It’s not a rave, it’s Santa Claus giving out chocolates to kids
Mike Denaro