Zippy is back for Christmas
Brand-new Zippy Santa lands in St Peter's Square to help Manchester celebrate Christmas
A very special Christmas VV-VIP has landed in the city today and taken up residence in St Peter's Square.
Adorned with more than 20,000 twinkling LED lights and sitting on top of an enormous Christmas parcel, Santa will be lit up 24 hours a day, all day every day, from now until 12th night in January.
Lifted into place through the air by crane - a first look reveals that this year's Santa, who has arrived in Manchester fresh from the North Pole, bears more than a passing resemblance to a particular Big Santa of years gone by..
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "We absolutely love Christmas in Manchester and it simply wouldn't be Christmas without Santa and his sackful of toys. Memories of our big Santas in the city over the years hold a special place in the hearts and minds of many a Mancunian.
"We've had at least eight or nine different Santas over the last three decades - each of them loved more or slightly less than the others, depending on who you talk to. But there's one Santa that people keep coming back to who captivated everyone with his big white beard and snow-white hands and feet - and that's our famous Zippy Santa who reigned supreme over Albert Square in front of the Town Hall until 2018.
"And that's why we're absolutely thrilled to be able to welcome our brand-new Zippy Santa to Manchester to see us through the festive season this year. Of course, it goes without saying that he's got some big Christmas boots to fill, but already people are loving him, and he's going to be here with us now right through until January at his very twinkly best, bringing an extra dose of sparkle and Manchester Christmas magic to everyone."