SANTA will be visiting children on the Littlemoor housing estate in Weymouth this Christmas - as plans are being made to support struggling families.

Kind-hearted volunteers from the recently reformed Littlemoor Community Action Group (LCAG) and Littlemoor Youth Club are determined to raise Christmas spirits during an unprecedented festive season, with two projects in the works.

These include a toy appeal to help Littlemoor families facing challenging circumstances this Christmas, as well as a special treat for all children on the estate.

Around 15 families will benefit from the toy appeal, with toys being donated by residents at Sutton Poyntz and other areas. Gifts and treats have also been donated by locals and businesses including BAE systems and Morrisons supermarket. There's still time to nominate a Littlemoor family in need of help, by calling 07809905412.

Meanwhile, volunteer 'elves' are busily preparing a Christmas sweet giveaway for the young people of Littlemoor, which will see bagged sweets delivered to homes on the estate from the back of Santa's sleigh.

Here's the schedule for Santa's sweet delivery round when he visits the Littlemoor estate on Saturday December 19:

4:30pm Top Club

4:40pm Canberra Road in Darwin car park

4:50pm Bayard Road

5:10pm Bincombe Valley Culiford Way entrance

5:30pm Community centre car park

6:05pm Littlemoor road by the Cinder path

6:15 Beverley road

6:40pm Clivia close

6:55pm Bincombe Valley car park

7:15pm Gentian Way

7:30pm Honeysuckle close

Residents who miss the delivery, or live on other roads, can also collect bags of sweets from the community centre or the Top Club.

Cllr Louie O'Leary, chairman of Littlemoor Youth Club, said: "We are determined to do three things this Christmas: help those in need, bring some festive cheer, and do it in a safe manner.

"We've done a lot of hard work and planning and we know it will pay off."

Gill Patterson, chairman of Littlemoor Community Action, said: "The response to our appeals has been amazing - we will do our best to bring some festive cheer to the end of a miserable year for the people of Littlemoor."

Local resident and volunteer Dawn Sewell added: "The response from donations has been amazing and it's wonderful to see the community pull together in such uncertain times."