The sight of Santa returning to Tenby in the RNLI lifeboat to officially turn on the Christmas lights for the resort is on the cards for next month.

Plans for the winter programme of events in Tenby were recently discussed by the town’s Christmas Festivities group, with Saturday, December 3, the date.

The day is set to commence in Tudor Square with the Salvation Army Band and community carol singing from 2 to 3 pm, followed by music from DJ Steve Briers.

The RNLI launch will take place from 4 pm, with Father Christmas and the Mayor due to appear in the Square on the inshore lifeboat (weather permitting) from 5 pm, to turn on the Christmas tree lights at 5.30 pm.

Following this, Father Christmas is to climb on board a horse and carriage and parade around the town, before a light parade takes place, with families following up to the De Valence with lanterns.

Further family entertainment is to take place in the De Valence after, with Santa’s Grotto, and stalls set out.

Speaking on the event at Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, the Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, told his fellow councillors that everything appeared to be in place for the Christmas festivities, thanking everyone involved for the planning, and particularly the RNLI and volunteers at the De Valence.

Town clerk Andrew Davies said that as the police were no longer able to voluntarily assist in traffic control on the day, Pembrokeshire County Council had advised that, in the interests of safety, a road closure be put in place for Tudor Square, from 4 to 6 pm.

He added that there would be a letter-drop planned for the next couple of weeks to warn residents in the area of the temporary road closure for December 3.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, said that it was proven that the day worked, and was a wonderful event, but she was disappointed that more events weren’t planned during the build-up to Christmas.

“I’d like to see more events across December, and the idea originally was that we hoped the likes of the Chamber of Trade and the Lions would take on their own days over the festive period, so it’s a shame that it’s just come down to one Saturday in the month,” she said.

Clr. Blackhall said that there was still time for other organisations to come forward with any ideas for other festive events.

Councillors also heard that Tenby Round Table had now taken over the organising of the annual Santa Run in the town, which would take place on Sunday, December 11, and they had enquired about the possibility of combining the event with a Christmas market.