Hayling Santa and the Great Christmas Train Robbery

- Sat 22nd Dec 2007

Opportunist thieves have made an audacious raid on Santa’s railway carriage grotto, at Beachlands station on the Hayling Seaside Railway, in the shadow of the Funland roller coaster. But readers can rest assured that the resulting disappointed faces did not belong to the excited children, on their way to see Father Christmas on the 3 o’clock ‘Santa Special’ from Eastoke Corner, but to the festive felons themselves.

The sneaky thieves struck on the Friday afternoon before Christmas, taking advantage of a few quiet moments between trains, when Father Christmas was busy feeding his reindeer. The seasonal heist however was to prove no more than a minor inconvenience to Santa and his volunteer helpers, for the parcels stolen were purely decorative and contained nothing more valuable than stones from Hayling beach.

Perhaps then it is the Christmas Crooks for whom we should spare a thought this Yuletide morn, as they peer forlornly into their empty stockings and look in vein beneath the Christmas tree. For as everyone knows Santa’s special book contains the names of EVERY boy and girl regardless of age, and we all know its only those who’ve been very, very good, who’s dreams come true when he takes off on his Christmas Eve rounds!

By forum user, Owd Rooter

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