Thanks to the generosity of the community, the Rotary Club of Heybridge Blackwater has unveiled its refurbished Santa sleigh - and the Maldon Grinch even came along to raise residents' spirits.

The famous Dr Seuss villain joined residents to watch the revealing of the upgraded sleigh yesterday evening (Tuesday, 16 November) at Happy Days Caravan Park on Goldhanger Road.

Malcolm Myles, of Heybridge Blackwater Rotary Club, said: "It's been painted beautifully red, and has got new lights and additions including reindeer, sugarcanes and a snowman."

The club's sleigh travels the streets of Heybridge and surrounding areas each December, in order to spread festive joy and raise money for charity in collection buckets.

This festive season, for the first time in nine years, the sleigh needed refurbishment so that it could continue its journey.

Local businesses donated generously to make this happen - Wilkin and Sons, from Tiptree Jam, donated £250, Perrywood Garden Centre gave a £30 voucher and KB provided the paint.

Residents Lee and Jo Hill completed the works.

Malcolm said: "They have done a really lovely job - it looks beautiful."

Michael Edwards, President of the club, added: "I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this project."

The sleigh is set to visit three primary schools this year, and will make 11 other trips around Heybridge and areas including Goldhanger, Great Totham, Little Totham and Tolleshunt D'Arcy.

Residents will even be able to track the sleigh's movements by selecting Heybridge Blackwater Rotary Club on app Sleigh Tracker, which can be downloaded from the App Store.

"The tracker will be attached to my phone, as I drive the car pulling the sleigh," Malcolm said.

"So residents will be able to see where we are minute by minute, and when we're going to get to them."

There will be collection tins on the sleigh to allow residents to donate money to important local causes supported by the club, which typically raises thousands of pounds each year for charity.

The club recently donated a cycle shed to Tolleshunt D'Arcy Primary School thanks to the money it raised from the Santa sleigh last year - one of many projects funded by the club.

"All the money collected on the Santa sleigh goes to local charities," Malcolm said.

"We like to keep the Santa sleigh money local, and heavily on the educational side."

Even more money is set to be raised for charity with the return of the Grinch to Maldon, too, after he raised over £4,200 for the Teenage Cancer Trust when he first popped up last year.

The infamous character could appear anywhere in Maldon as the festive season approaches, and you can donate to his new fundraiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust here.

The schedule for the Rotary Club of Heybridge Blackwater's Santa sleigh is currently as follows:

- Wednesday, 1 December: Goldhanger

- Monday, 6 December: Wood Road estate route two, Wood Road, Chestnut Mews, Ash Grove, Scylla Close, Swifts Boulevard, Towers Road, Glebe Close

- Friday, 10 December: Hall Road estate (Heybridge)

- Wednesday, 15 December: Rowan Drive

- Friday, 17 December: Doubleday Drive estate

- Thursday, 23 December: Tolleshunt D'Arcy

All runs will begin at 6pm and finish by 8pm.

You can visit the Rotary Club of Heybridge Blackwater Facebook page here.