DELIVERING presents to homes all around the world in one night would be the stuff of nightmares for ordinary couriers. But Father Christmas manages it year after year.

Eschewing modern technology like drones, he sticks with his sleigh drawn by his trusty reindeer steeds.

But how does he meet his all-important deadline? How does he know what children have ordered? And have any of his young customers ever seen this elusive red-suited deliveryman.

We asked pupils at Holy Cross Primary School these perplexing questions and more.

Brawley, aged six, is confident he knows how Santa manages to make his delivery slots all around the world in such a short time. “He goes at 20mph,” he confided to the Adver. He knows because he has seen the elves at the North Pole. “It was cold and I wore my jacket and my hat and my gloves.”

Darius, six, believes the secret is in the reindeer. “I think they’re fast because Father Christmas has taught them how to run and fly fast. I think they go at 50mph,” he explained.

Bethany, also six, believes the big guy is even speedier than that when he puts the pedal to the metal – in fact his journey is quicker than most people’s commute home at the end of their working day.

“It takes him a minute to get round the world because his sleigh is fast with all those reindeers. They clip clop really fast in the sky,” she said.

Reception pupil Harry, aged five, simply said: “I think Santa is a really good pilot.” While seven-year-old Angelus, clearly a keen gamer, went for a science-based approach. “He uses a portal to travel all around the world, like you have in Minecraft.”

Delivering the gifts is one thing, but taking the orders and getting the presents is a job in itself. Lots of children write letters. Francesca, aged six, is one. She’s hoping to find a pair of Heelies under the tree come Christmas morning. “I post mine. It goes to the North Pole. I think the postman puts it through his letter box. Then Santa gets the toys,” she said.

“He can read children’s minds,” suggested Lacey, seven. But she is hedging her bets with a letter this year. “I’m asking him for snow, lots and lots – hopefully.”

Darius doesn’t feel the need to put pen to paper or take to the keyboard. “I don’t send a letter but he knows what I want because he’s got a big brain.”

Maria, eight, feels he is probably omnipotent. “I just feel that he can see us all the way from the North Pole,” she said. “Last year I did a list and I put it under the Christmas tree and the next day when I went there it was gone.”

And although Santa has elves to help him, Bethany thinks he gets most of presents from the shops. “Maybe he gets them for free, maybe he has a lot of money, but I don’t think he gets them online because he doesn’t have any internet,” she said.

When it comes to face-to-face meetings Maria isn’t fooled by the Santas she sees at seasonal events. “I’ve seen lots of his helpers,” she said. “They dress as Father Christmas but I know they aren’t the real Father Christmas. I don’t tell them because I don’t want to make them upset.

“But I believe in Father Christmas. Once in my old house, when I was about three, we had a fireplace and the chimney was full of white footprints.”

Declan on the other hand doesn’t think he will ever see Santa. “His clothes make him camouflaged in whatever he walks in front of,” he said.

Six-year-old Harry said: “I saw him at Old Town Christmas lights. I knew it was him because it sounded like him.”

But he doesn’t expect to see him on December 24. “It’s really difficult to go to sleep but I’ve never seen him. He knows when I’m asleep.”

Another one who is adamant she has met him is Eva, seven. “When we went somewhere he told a story to us. I knew he was real because Santa always tells stories to little kids,” she said.

Finally Julia, six, has some sage advice for other children on Christmas Eve. “You need to be asleep or he won’t come,” she said. “And when you’re naughty then Santa doesn’t give you a gift, just a brown stick.”