FATHER Christmas swapped his sleigh for a scooter when he came to Newton Abbot’s branch of the Salvation Army to drop off sacks of presents.

Mr Christmas rode into the town atop his classic Vespa GTS 300 IE on Wednesday, December 10.

Accompanied by members of the South Devon Vespa Club, the Christmas gift-giver handed close to 50 presents to the Army’s Major Nigel Byrne, who said he was ‘very grateful’ for the donations.

The presents will be distributed to those children in and around Newton Abbot who would otherwise go without.

Organiser Mike Fox, who is Chairman of the South Devon Vespa Club, said the Salvation Army was a ‘great cause’.