Christmas has come early for the Cheam and Sutton Rotary club after it was announced that its annual Float would once again go ahead.

In September, a van that was meant to bring joy and happiness to residents was stolen by way of acting as Santa's Sleigh was stolen.

This caused great concern to rotary club president Brendan McWilliams who feared its annual Cheam and Sutton Christmas Float would be cancelled as a result.

"The old van used in the previous years had caused a lot of maintenance problems over the recent years so the club had over time built up a reserve to replace the van and replace they did in September," he said.

"The new van would be used as Santa’s Sleigh in December and the other 11 months of the year it would be used by the Banstead District Scouts.

"Rotary purchased a new van and together with the Scouts they were working towards getting it ready to be transformed into a sleigh when alas, 12 days after it had been purchased it was stolen.

"This theft had put all the club’s plans at risk."

But Mr McWilliams has now revealed that the Float will go ahead after all.

"It has been a roller-coaster ride for the club to get the sleigh this year," he added.

"So, it is a great relief that Cheam and Sutton Rotary, having received the insurance payment were able to buy another van and will be able to have the Santa Sleigh parading our streets once more in December and bring its usual Christmas cheer to our neighbourhood."

This will be the 54th iteration of the event and will run from December 1 until Christmas Eve.

A decision is also expected to be made soon on where and when the sleigh travels on its journey.