RADCLIFFE Rotary Club may have to pay out thousands of pounds in compensation to Santa Claus after he fell off his sleigh.

Thomas Killoran (47) volunteered to be Father Christmas for the club's annual street collection.

But he was thrown from the sleigh, breaking his elbow and damaging his hip. He made a civil claim against the club, which denied liability, but Manchester County Court found in Mr Killoran's favour.

The Rotary Club will not only have to pay compensation, but all legal costs.

Mr Killoran, of Bolton Road, Radcliffe, said: "I'm very relieved. It was a right and proper verdict. The Rotary Club was entirely responsible and I hope this is a salutary lesson for them."

Mr Killoran had donned Santa's red robes more than 35 times before the night of the accident, December 10, 1998. "I'd been involved since 1993 and 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.

In the nights leading up to the accident, he had braved missiles thrown at the float by local youths. On the evening in question the float was driven across Redbank Field by Rotarian Frank Nicholson. The ground was sodden and deeply rutted as Mr Nicholson speeded up to gain traction, the float dipped into a rut and Mr Killoran was catapulted off.

He fractured his left elbow and damaged his left hip and was treated at Bury General Hospital the next day.

"I was put in a cuff and sling for six weeks and underwent seven months of painful physiotherapy. Then, because there was a mal-union in my elbow bone, I had to have a piece of my elbow removed."

He is expecting to receive a five figure sum in compensation, although the exact amount has yet to be settled.

Speaking after the trial, Mr Killoran's solicitor Andrew Davidson, said: "We are delighted that Mr Killoran has been vindicated."

Radcliffe Rotary Club president Dave Beesley said: "Rotary exists to help deserving causes in the local community and internationally. There was an incident in 1998 involving our fund-raising activities and we did the responsible thing by immediately placing the matter in the hands of our insurers."

He added: "The incident took place more than three years ago and the matter is now settled. It will not prevent the club continuing to give so much pleasure to so many people in Radcliffe at Christmas."