SANTA may be lonely this Christmas as many stores abandon traditional shop grottoes in favour of more retail space.

The Ministry of Fun, which supplies Santa's helpers to shops around the UK, says it has taken only 75 bookings this year - compared with 300 at the same time three years ago.

It claims that many shops are phasing out grottoes because they take up valuable room.

Beales spokeswoman Sally Smith said: "We always used to have a grotto on the fourth floor but much of it was lovingly hand-made by a member of staff. When he retired, Beales felt that ready-made grottoes just wouldn't be the same. Instead, the store tries to create a real Christmas spirit in every individual department."

She added that a Christmas grotto at the Beales group's department store in Yeovil remained "a highlight for all the children of the town".

However, Santa Claus is still coming to town.

Steven Connolly, manager of Poole's Dolphin Centre, confirmed that Santa would be arriving by lifeboat at the Quay on the morning of November 21 before being taken to the shopping centre by horse-drawn carriage.

He will then be taking up temporary residence in a grotto shaped like a giant Christmas parcel, topped with a Christmas tree.

"He's been coming here forever and we've no plans to cancel him," said Mr Connolly.

"He brings in customers and it's a nice thing to do."

Santa will also be arriving at Debenhams in Bournemouth Square on November 14 and will be in his grotto full-time from November 27 onwards.

A spokeswoman for the store said: "We feel it's a nice service to provide for the family.

"It's a family department store and 50p from each visit goes to the charity Tommy's."

First published: November 4