PALLBEARERS carried in the coffin to the strains of The Snowman played on a church organ.

In the pews, mourners sat with red bows, bells and tinsel in their hair.

Some dressed as elves or Mrs Claus and one wore a red-nosed reindeer onesie.

“Santa Mike” Childs wanted a Christmas-themed funeral and at St Nicholas Church in Brighton this morning, he got one.

Mike was famed across the city for bringing joy to young people as Father Christmas on Brighton and Hove Buses’ Santa Bus. He died in December after nearly two decades in the job, aged 77.

His son Jay Childs read a touching eulogy on behalf of the family.

He said: “With Dad, it was Christmas every day of the year. We would always hear his jolly ho ho ho.

“Mike raised staggering amounts for charity. He was never a wealthy man but he would always give you his last penny.

“He left big boots to fill. Heaven needed a new Santa, and now it has the best.”

Jay said his father had “the most beautiful handwriting” and practised opera singing with “a booming voice that could lift the roof off”.

Mike, who worked for the NHS before he became Santa, was also a DJ, a qualified snooker referee and well known in the darts world. He also loved Gregorian chants. With The Argus Appeal and Brighton and Hove Buses, he raised more than £300,000 for charity.

From the church lectern, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses Martin Harris said: “Santa Mike was a larger-than-life character. He was something special in his red suit and white beard. He lit up so many children’s lives, and devoted his time to schools and children in hospital on Christmas day.

“Mike was on top of the Santa bus in wind, in rain, in frost and in snow. He was an inspiration who made Christmas special.”

The funeral closed with a burst of Monty Python’s Always Look On The Bright Side of Life and a recording of Mike singing at the church as a young choirboy.

He was placed in the coffin wearing his Santa suit.