Tributes paid to Burradon great-grandad once dubbed the North East's 'longest serving Santa'

He was once dubbed the North East's longest-serving Santa and put a smile on the faces of generations of children.

Don Toon volunteered as Father Christmas at Peter Barratt's Garden Centre, in Gosforth, Newcastle, for more than 20 years. With his real white beard and full Santa attire, he continued to delight youngsters when he was in his 80s, earning the names 'Santa Don' and 'Peter Barratt's Santa'.

Now moving tributes have been paid to the great-grandad, of Burradon, North Tyneside, who died in April at the age of 95.