A little girl with hearing problems told Santa Claus what she wants for Christmas using sign language.

The heartwarming scene was captured by an onlooker at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Centre on November 5 and was posted to YouTube. It has since attracted over 156,600 views.

At the start of the touching 40 second clip, the unnamed tot enters the present-filled grotto and sits on Father Christmas' knee wearing a festive hat.

At the start of the touching 40 second clip, the unnamed tot enters the present-filled grotto and sits on Father Christmas' knee wearing a festive hat

In the short video, the girl's mum is then heard telling Santa: 'Sorry, she can't talk very well.'

The kind Kris Kringle then asks if she uses sign language to which her mother replies: 'Yeah, she does animals and things like that.'

Saint Nick then taps the adorable girl's arm to get her attention before using hand signals to ask her what she wants for Christmas.

In what appeared to be a scene straight out of the tear-jerking movie Miracle on 34th Street, Santa and his excited little pal are then seen conversing in sign language.

The heartwarming scene was captured by an onlooker at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Centre on November 5 and was posted to YouTube. It has since attracted over 156,600 views

The kind Kris Kringle then asks if she uses sign language to which her mother replies: 'Yeah, she does animals and things like that'

Saint Nick then taps the adorable girl's arm to get her attention before using hand signals to ask her what she wants for Christmas

The animated youngster's eyes light up and she beams as she tells Santa that she hopes to find a scooter underneath her Christmas tree.

Within hours of the video being posted online, thousands of people had watched it - and almost all were completely enchanted with the inspiring scene.

One emotional user wrote: 'Congrats you just made a 40 year old man squee over his 1st cup of coffee. That is ADORABLE!!!'

Another touched contributor added: 'So sweet, wonderful of him to make a connection with her.. what a great guy and what a precious girl!'

While someone else called for Santa to be applauded for his actions: 'This guy deserves a medal. Best video I have seen in long time. He made that little girl's year right there.'

In what appeared to be a scene straight out of the tear-jerking movie Miracle on 34th Street, Santa and his excited little pal are then seen conversing in sign language

The animated youngster's eyes light up and she beams as she tells Santa that she hopes to find a scooter underneath her Christmas tree

The video also received high praise when it was posted to the Cleveland Centre Facebook page.

'Well done Cleveland centre for having an AWESOME Santa,' said one social media user.

While another added: 'How heartwarming is this...the true meaning of Christmas ...beautiful. Thank you, Father Christmas x.'

A Cleveland Centre spokesman told a local newspaper: 'We believe the Cleveland Centre Santa is real and this truly shows the magic and spirit of Christmas, just like Miracle on 34th Street.

'Santa wants to make sure every child who visits really does experience what this time of year is all about. Santa will take his time with each and every child and will try and put a smile on their faces.

'Santa has been coming to the Cleveland Centre for four years now and this has got to the most truly amazing few minutes we have experienced.'

But this Kris Kringle isn't the only one spreading the festive joy.

Earlier this week, an autistic six-year-old was too shy to sit on Santa's lap, so the caring worker decided to spend some time with him.