A farm is offering visitors a truly magical experience in the run up to Christmas.

Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, in Chadderton, Oldham, have pulled out all the stops with their Santa’s Grotto.

Not only do youngsters get to meet the jolly man in red but they have to make their way through a festive maze to find him.

Lily Lancaster, who runs the farm with her brother David, said: “We’ve called it a Santa’s Grotto but it’s really a bit more than that.

“We have a series of rooms that we’ve transformed into a Christmas maze.”

Youngsters are guided through the Elves’ Workshop, onto a nativity scene where Mrs Clause tells them the story of Christmas before writing a letter to Santa.

An elf then takes you through a snowy mountain corridor before you get to meet the big man himself. There is even a Disney’s Frozen themed room where Olaf the snowman is waiting to meet you before you enter the Christmas Tree forest for pictures on Santa’s Sleigh.

And no trip to the farm would be complete with out a chance to meet the animals including Lancaster Park’s latest additions Twinkletoes and Sparkledust the reindeer.

The grotto follows the success of the park’s Farm of Horror event at Halloween.

Lily added: “Our events are going down really well and it’s really nice to see people getting their money’s worth and having a great experience.

“We opened on Saturday and the response has been overwhelming.

“The kids just loved it and a lot have said it’s really believable and magical.

“We’re now in our third year here and we’ve always planned to extend our open season.”

Santa’s Grotto will be open from 10am to 4pm on weekends and in the school holidays in the run up to Christmas.

Entrance to the farm and grotto for an adult and child is £10, and £6 for any additional adult and £6.50 for a child.

The entrance fee also includes a present from Santa.

After Christmas Lancaster Park will remain closed until March.