It has a Sleeping Beauty, portcullises, a wishing well and snowy scenes for fairy princesses and knights in shining armour.

All that's needed for this year's festive Argus grotto is Father Christmas.

He will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage at 1.45pm on Saturday, in time for the official opening of the magical castle grotto at 2.15pm.

It is the third year The Argus has run the grotto at the Gingerbread House next to Donatello Restaurant in The Lanes, Brighton.

Money raised will go to The Argus Appeal to help charities and people in need.

The 5,000 children and their families who met Father Christmas last year raised £16,000 for a new renal unit, which opens next year at Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Howard Scott, managing director of Newsquest Sussex, which owns The Argus, and Argus Appeal chairman, said: "This community project, made possible by the generosity of so many, adds to the Christmas experience in Brighton and makes a real difference to those most in need."

Children can tell Santa their Christmas wish before receiving a mystery toy.

The grotto is open from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 6pm at weekends. Entrance is £3.95, adults free.

Those who made the grotto possible are: Legal & General for their sponsorship; Sue & Pietro Addis, of Donatello, for premises; Terry Nitman and Nic Clarke, of Llewellyn-ROK Building Services; Tim Austin, of Austins Cradles; Sterling Contractors; Geoff and Colin Thomas, of EPS, Newhaven, for signs; Richard Corrigan - Graphics; John, Sean, Ian and Guy of The Argus facilities department; Mandy Brame and the team from Decoram; Evan Murphy and Kerry Kyriacou of Bramble&Co for interior creation; Cliff Doo who came for an afternoon and stayed a fortnight; Brian Phillips for coming to the rescue; Paul Fowler, site gaffer for a third year; Mark Gillard, Matt Clutterham, Matt Williams, Jay Hunter and Roy Roe for lighting; Maureen Cotterill, costumier to Father Christmas; Ron, Steve and the boys from the Wood Occupations Department at Brighton and Hove City College; Brighton City Centre Forum for the stylish arrival of Father Christmas; Susie Beer, of Potter's Toy Shop; and Malcolm Dockerill, of Dockerills, for emergency supplies.