A ‘MAGICAL’ Christmas grotto has returned to Fearnhead.

Santa’s grotto at Fearnhead Cross Community and Youth Centre has returned for 2018.

The popular festive haunt was cancelled last year, due to delays in the £300,000 refurbishment of the Insall Road community centre.

Event organisers promised that the free grotto would be back ‘bigger and better’ this year.

And Warrington Borough Council chief executive Steven Broomhead opened the returning attraction on Wednesday, December 5.

Thousands of schoolchildren visit Father Christmas at the grotto each year.

The grotto opens from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm on weekdays up until Wednesday, December 19.

It will also open from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, December 13, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, December 15.