RADCLIFFE Rotary Club has presented Father Christmas with almost £14,000 in compensation after he fell off his sleigh.

Santa, who was played by Thomas Killoran, has fought a three-year battle against the club since he was injured in the December 1998 festive float collection.

Mr Killoran, of Bolton Road, Radcliffe, was thrown from the vehicle, driven by Rotarian Frank Nicholson, as it travelled across rutted and sodden ground on Redbank Field.

As a result of his fall he fractured his left elbow and damaged his left hip. He underwent several months of painful physiotherapy and had to have a piece of his elbow removed. Today he has lost 40 per cent of the use of his arm.

Earlier this year, Manchester County Court found in favour of the 48-year-old carpenter, who had brought a civil claim against the club for negligence.

But before a second hearing was held to establish the exact amount of compensation he was entitled to, the Rotary Club made an offer of £13,750, which Mr Killoran accepted.

"I'm relatively satisfied, but it wasn't about the money, it was the principle. I was the injured victim of the club's negligence," he said.

"Not one member bothered to ring and find out how I was or apologise. For a charitable organisation, they haven't been very charitable to me."

He claims he was treated badly by the club after he decided to take legal action and has now written to Rotary's UK headquarters and the world Rotary Club base in America to demand a full apology.

Mr Killoran, who has had to give up work because of his injuries, had donned Santa's red robes more than 35 times before the night of the accident.

"Although I was not a member of the Rotary Club, I volunteered because I saw it as a way of putting something back into the community," he said.

Radcliffe Rotary spokesman Ron Mollard denied accusations that Mr Killoran had been treated badly by the club when he decided to bring the matter to the courts.

"The Rotary Club has acted very responsibly over this incident. When we were made aware of the claim, it was forwarded to our insurers, who decided they would contest the case," he said.

He stressed that the money paid out comes from Rotary's insurers rather than the money the public donate at fund-raising events.

Mr Killoran said: "I will be donating some of the money to a charity, but it certainly won't be Radcliffe Rotary Club."