Pelted Santa dons builder's hat
Builders - 21/12/2006 16:36:15
A shopping centre Santa has been forced to wear a builder's hard-hat after being pelted with mince pies by local youths.
The Father Christmas was caught in a shower of festive snacks which were thrown by teenagers from the upper level of the Paisley Shopping Centre near Glasgow.
Amazed onlookers watched as the Santa, who was handing out treats to passers-by, was forced to don a plastic hat to protect him from the flying food.
Centre manager Andrew MacKinnon said staff and Christmas shoppers were shocked after the incident on Saturday.
He said: "We are a multi-level centre, and have taken this somewhat drastic action to protect Santa from possible injury. Such an incident does give rise to health and safety concerns, and we take the safety of our staff very seriously."
Mr MacKinnon added that the builder's hat had been decorated with red reindeer antlers to "Christmas it up a bit".
Paisley is the largest town in Scotland and grew in the early 19th century because of the textile industry that had established in the area. It was this industry that resulted in the famous Paisley Pattern.
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