Christmas grotto scam enrages town firefighters
SOME PEOPLE WERE CHARGED £25 FOR FREE TICKETS
FIREFIGHTERS have been angered after people were scammed into buying what were supposed to be free tickets to Stapleford Fire Station’s Covidsafe drive-through Santa’s Grotto.
The grotto started last year during lockdown.
Kevin Tedds, supervision manager at the station said: “Last year during lockdown, we decided to do a drivethrough Santa’s Grotto.
“This year, after the success, we decided to do it again.
“The event is supporting a firefighter charity and we raised around £3,500 last year and it was successful. Everyone loved it and we won an award for it.”
After people dressed as elves and Disney princesses for last year’s event, the firefighters want to make the 2021 grotto just as magical for more than 1,200 children and their families.
“We advertised the event on Facebook because it’s really popular. They sold out and tickets were allocated seven minutes later,” Mr Tedds said “We got people messaging saying they’ve paid for a ticket and they haven’t received them. Some people paid £25 but they’re free. “It’s put a bit of a taint on it really. One firefighter had spent £200 of his money. We did advise people to go to the police and we deleted all posts regarding the event. We did think about cancelling it but we’re determined to do it again.”
He thinks there could be two or three scammers but doesn’t know exactly how many.
He said he had been amazed by people’s kindness in donating decorations for the grotto on Saturday, December 18.
“Local people are coming to help out and have been supportive but people are also angry,” he said. “We’ve had 10-15 trees dropped off today and we’ve had around 900 selection boxes donated to us. We’re asking people if they do have old Christmas trees to donate them.” You can drop off donations at the station 9am-9pm on Mondays, Tuesday mornings or Thursday nights.
We did think about cancelling it but we’re determined to do it again
Kevin Tedds, Stapleford Fire Station