Foam and bubbles fell like snow as Santa arrived at The Argus Appeal grotto in The Lanes.

He travelled in style through Brighton and Hove in a horse-drawn carriage and was greeted by crowds of children.

This year the grotto has an underwater theme, with mermaids, crabs, sea horses and fish adorning the brightly painted building next to Donatello restaurant.

Children and their parents looked up in amazement as foam and bubbles sprayed into the air and fell on their heads.

Queues to enter the grotto stretched around the corner and excited children hopped up and down in nervous anticipation.

Steps star H, who is appearing in Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, posed with children for photos before joining Santa.

He said: "This is something I really wanted to get involved with and it is for such a good cause."

Betty Field, of Tilgate Close, Brighton, brought her seven-year-old granddaughter Ellie Purvis to visit the grotto.

They had waited in the queue for more than an hour and a half but Ellie, a pupil at Westdean School, did not seem to mind.

Mrs Field said: "We came last year and Ellie has been really excited. It is always great but you have to arrive quite early. This Santa is the best in town."

Ellie said: "I like the characters from Finding Nemo painted on the side its a really good film. I am going to ask Santa for some rollerblades."

Further down the queue Teddy Baker, seven, waited patiently with his mum Katherine, of Wicklands Avenue, Saltdean.

Teddy, a pupil at Saltdean Primary School, said: "This is the first time I have been to the grotto. I would like a Tamagotchi.

My friends at school all have them and the teacher takes them away because they put them on the floor and they make lots of funny noises."

Katherine, 30, said: "Teddy has been really excited about coming all day. Its important to do something for charity as well. It all adds up."

This is the fourth appeal grotto and money raised will go to the Pink Dolphin Appeal, which is raising money for a new breast cancer care clinic in Brighton.

Santa will be at the grotto every day until Christmas Eve from 10am until 5pm. Entry, which includes a present, is £3.95 per child.

The Argus Appeal would like to thank all those who made the grotto possible, including: Legal & General, the technical team at the Theatre Royal, Sue and Pietro Addis, Donatello, ROK/Llewellyn, EPS Newhaven, Tim Austin, Austins Cradles, Brighton City Centre Business Forum, Derek Hunnisett, Decoram Interiors, Potters Toy Store, Wood Occupations, City College Brighton and Hove.

The Lanes Business Network would like to thank Donatello Restaurant, Ellis and Partners, Gold Arts, Merlin Displays, South Bank Estates (Brighton Square) Ltd, Stella Richardson and Paul Kent of Brighton and Hove City Council for helping to make The Lanes look fantastic this Christmas.

First published Monday, November 29, 2004