SANTA has returned to the Manchester town hall roof after being saved from the sack for another year.
The 80ft inflatable figure was rescued last year by a Manchester Evening News-led campaign against city chiefs who thought he was past his sell-by date.
City centre manager Gordon McKinnon warned at the time that the 2002 appearance was likely to be his last before being packed away for good.
Now it has emerged that the money spent on repairing him made it uneconomical to get a replacement this year. That means the city council has had to meet the high price of putting him on the roof - a two-hour job that cost £30,000, including inflation.
Borrowed time
The process was delayed by electrical problems and, for some time, passers-by were puzzled by the sight of one giant red arm and a sack of gifts. Mr McKinnon has again warned that Santa is living on borrowed time after an 18-year stint.
"We would still like to think we would update him for the future," he said.
"It will depend on how much money is available next year. There was quite an outcry when we decided he was not going to go up.
"Clearly having spent a lot of money to repair him it makes sense to keep him this time.
"He is deteriorating and is old and gets a battering every year. Santa has not got long to go.
"We are hoping the repairs hold him for this season but that could be it."
Should a replacement Santa be found for the town hall?
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Santa on the town hall is an institution. I for one am looking forward to showing him to my 2 year old and watching her reaction.
If the current one is a bit shabby, the council should pay for a new one if only to reap the benefit in free publicity for the city centre.
May Santa's reign over the city continue!
I thought the current Santa WAS the new one? Didn't he make an appearance only a few years ago, cos the old one kept getting shot? I'm sure I remember a different Santa in previous years - one with a face far less like that of an alcoholic.
I'm definitely in favour of keeping Santa as an institution though - but they should get one who looks like less of a dipso!
Faria, believe me that inflatable is the spitting image of the old soak.
Gordon McKinnon wants to 'update' Santa Claus for the future? How can you update Santa Claus? He is an institution and should never be exchanged for anything else. They have already 'modernised' the Christmas tree, please, let's keep Santa!
Whatever happened to Father Christmas???? I swear I always thought Santa was what the Americans called him!
Can I suggest that you contact Mr Mckinnon with the following proposal. Instead of Santa in 2004, would the Manchester City Centre Management Company be prepared to sponsor an inflatable Noddy? With a suitably Christmassy theme of course.
I have a feeling that he may be more attentive to the proposal than you'd think!!!