Santa Claus is back in town...and fully jabbed!

CHRISTMAS RETURN COMES AFTER MIKE'S FIRST YEAR OFF

- EVE WATSON

PLYMOUTH'S very own Santa Claus is back ... after having to hang up his iconic red hat last year because of the pandemic.

For years, Mike Putt made Christmas special for everyone else's children, but last December he made it memorable for his own.

His children pleaded with him not to transform into Kris Kringle because they were concerned about his health due to him being clinically vulnerable.

Mike, one of Plymouth's most-loved Santas for a decade, said it was the first year since he started that he couldn't spread Christmas cheer in his usual way.

But now Plymouth's St Nick is back and better than ever, and he has already been busy in the run-up to the big day.

Not only that, he is also fully vaccinated.

Talking about his brief hiatus, Mike said: “I'm vulnerable myself. My children said 'please can you stop it, Dad, and so I respected them and I shaved my beard off.”

However, Mike's beard is now the "longest it's ever been", and he is loving being the man in the red suit once again.