A CHRISTMAS grotto has arrived at Churchill Square but this year it is unlike anything that has been seen in Brighton before.

The shopping centre has ditched the conventional grotto to bring the interactive and immersive “Coal Hearted Christmas experience” to shoppers.

Youngsters can still meet the man in red but they will have to earn it with fun and hard work.

As part of the experience, children can dig for “gold”, hear engaging stories and get to know Santa’s miner elves before meeting him in his grotto.

Centre director Mark Buchanan-Smith said: “We are giving the traditional grotto a twist this year in true Churchill Square style.

“The grotto will take the shape of a giant piece of coal and will be in the promotions court where Santa will be residing until Christmas Eve.

“We will also be hosting autism-friendly sessions. Christmas is a fantastic time across Brighton and it’s always a highlight of the year in the centre.”

It costs £6 to take part in Coal Hearted Christmas and visit Santa and includes a gift with each visit.

Autism friendly hours are Monday, December 11, from noon until 1pm and Monday, December 18, from 10am until 11am.

Meanwhile, the “giving trees” have returned to Churchill Square.

Now in its seventh year, and in partnership with Brighton charity Rockinghorse, the festive campaign will see special tags being hung from three Christmas trees throughout the centre – with kind-hearted shoppers encouraged to take one and purchase a gift for a local child.

Mr Buchanan-Smith said: “I’m thrilled that we will once again be partnering with the charity to help give children the Christmas they deserve.”

To take part in the campaign, those visiting the centre should take a tag hanging from any one of the three trees and buy the recommended gift.

They can then take the gift to the customer services desk, unwrapped and with the tag on, any day until Christmas Eve. There will be a tree in the lower central mall along with those in the East mall and West mall.