IT’S crunch time for Father Christmas and his merry band of elves. But there is one hiccup this year.

It’s Christmas Eve and while most children are hanging up their stockings, a few boys and girls in Swindon are refusing to join in.

The sceptical bunch have stopped believing in Santa and, with Christmas morning only a few short hours away, cheeky elves Charlie and Kara have been given the difficult task of proving that the big bearded man is, indeed, real.

With magic tricks, songs and stories, they are determined to change the children’s stubborn minds, before it’s time to board Santa’s sleigh and shimmy down thousands of chimneys to deliver presents.

If your brood is starting to ask tricky logistical questions about Santa’s delivery or his suspiciously convenient teleportation powers, Santa Claus and the Night Before Christmas is the perfect family show to keep the illusion going for one more year.

As an added Christmas treat, all of the good boys and girls in the audience will get to meet the man himself after the play and receive a special present.

Santa Claus and the Night Before Christmas is aimed at children over two. It runs until Christmas Eve.

Tickets start at £14. To book go to swindontheatres.co.uk.