FESTIVE fun has began at one of East Lancashire’s premier shopping centres with the opening of its Santa’s Grotto and polar experience.

Oswaldtwistle Mills is expecting around 3,000 guests to attend its Yuletide activities from now until Christmas.

Visitors can see a live reindeer, which shoppers voted to name ‘Lightning,’ along with the chance to sit in a sleigh and have a photo with a snow man.

Father Christmas himself will also be on hand to speak to children about their seasonal wishes.

Snow machines will also add to the winter wonderland experience.

A variety of festive games will be on offer to keep guests entertained before and during their visit to see Santa Claus.

Bosses at the shopping centre said it is to be a busy and exciting time over the Christmas period.

Marketing manager Tracey Leeming said: “It has all gone really well so far and we have already had a lot of people coming in and enjoying the experience.

“It is normally really popular but we’ve been trying to go above and beyond to offer the best festive experience possible.

“It should be exciting for young people, we are aiming to make it more interactive so it is not just a walk around.

“There is going to be a lot going on so young people have a great experience and are kept entertained throughout their visit.

“We’re expecting it to be really busy from now on until Christmas time.”

Approximately 400 visitors are expected to turn up every weekend until it leaves the shopping centre.

Last year around 2,600 guests from across the county came along but this year staff are hoping even more will attend.

All children who visit will be given a chocolate treat, a plush toy, reindeer food and a reindeer face mask.

Children can also decorate their festive mask and upload a photo to the Oswaldtwistle Mills Facebook page to be entered into a competition to win a Amazon Fire Kids HD8 Tablet.

It will be open every weekend from now until December 23 from 10am until 4pm and will also be open noon until 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in December.

It will also be open for a penultimate chance to witness the polar experience on Friday, December 22.

Tickets cost £10 and donations from sales will go towards Ronald McDonald House Manchester’s Children’s Hospital. Entry is free for adults. To buy tickets in advance contact 01254 871025.