AN OTLEY garden centre has given an early Christmas gift to two Lions clubs.

Otley Lions hold a fundraising Santa’s grotto at Stephen H Smith’s each winter but had to cancel it this year due to the pandemic.

The Smith family, however, have donated £2,500 to the club - and to Keighley Lions, who they also work with - to ease the blow.

Otley Lions President Richard Phillips said: “Without the usual grottos and collections around the towns the clubs were going to lose a lot of valuable income which they rely on.

“This amazing gesture of friendship and goodwill will mean the clubs can continue to help those in need locally, especially during the extraordinary times we face. The Smith family also gave a Lion cuddly toy which the Otley club plans to raffle to raise more funds.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Stephen H Smith’s.”

A special message from Santa, meanwhile, can be found at www.otleylionsclub.org.uk.”