If Father Christmas happens to come face-to-face with a child in the South West this December he should be prepared for some strange and rather direct lines of questioning.

In a ResearchBods survey conducted by the NSPCC for its Letter from Santa campaign, 2,000 children aged six to 11 were asked a series of questions about the man with a long white beard and a red coat.

When answering ‘If Santa could do one thing to make life better for children what would it be?’ more than a quarter said they would ask him to make sure every child had a gift to open this Christmas.

Ensuring all children had enough to eat polled eight per cent, Santa using his special powers so that all young people could go to school received seven per cent while a further six per cent said they wished he could make sure everyone was healthy.

However, not all the responses to in the survey were coated in Christmas spirit, especially when children were offered the chance to pose Santa one question. 

Responses from children in the South West may shock and/or surprise the great man and also cause some red faces for the inquisitor’s parents:

•    Is your beard real? Girl 6-8
•    Do you get fed up with your job? 9-11 year old boy 
•    How high do you actually go on your sleigh? 6-8 year old girl
•    How do you get down the chimney when you’re so fat? Girl 6-8
•    How are the elves? 6-8 year old girl
•    Do you really like mince pies? Boy 9-11
•    What are the winning Lotto numbers? 9-11 year old boy
•    What would you like for Christmas? Girl 9-11
•    Where do you get your magic from? 6-8 year old boy

Other questions from children across the country included ‘Can you hear the things we say in our heads?’ and ‘How come you don’t die? You’re really old.’

The NSPCC ‘Letter from Santa’ campaign offers parents, carers or friends the chance to bring the magic into the lives of their loved ones for a donation of £5. 

This will help the NSPCC safeguard children from abuse and neglect this festive season and throughout the rest of the year.

To purchase a letter from Santa visit nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/make-a-donation/letter-from-santa