Police Get Into Festive Spirit

Santa Claus - also known as Sergeant Greg Wakefield of the Kensal Green Safer Neighbourhoods team - visited John Keble Junior School on Saturday last week (6) to bring the magic of Christmas to the local community.

He took a sleigh full of presents donated by local businesses and was accompanied by one of his reindeer and a Christmas horse.

The event started at 12pm with children and parents queuing outside to see Santa and by 2pm there were more than 250 people.

Excited children waited to have a sledge ride or see to the Reindeer in the playground. and there were performances from the school steel band and choir.

Olympic Gold Medallist James DeGale attended the event, which raised nearly £290 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He said: "It was an honour to be invited to the grotto and to see so many smiling children. It's good to see this kind of thing happening for the kids in the community. Harlesden needed something like the grotto to show people do care. I'm very proud that I'm from Harlesden."

Sergeant Greg Wakefield added: "The grotto was an excellent day. We engaged with parents and children who don't normally engage with the police whether it is through fear or false perceptions. A lot of attitudes were changed, fears dispelled and barriers broken down. The whole day was very rewarding and marked the start of the Christmas season for Harlesden."