SANTA Claus is swapping his sleigh for a canal boat next month for a children's adventure day in Halesowen.

Coombeswood Canal Trust is inviting 12 children to navigate Hawne canal basin on its heritage working boat Atlas on Sunday, December 14.

The children, aged between 7-years-old and 11, will meet Santa, have some mince pies, hot drinks and learn about Christmas traditions on a working boat.

Jani Hatton, from the Trust, said: “We are going to have an adventure.

“This is all in keeping with the Coombeswood Canal Trust's remit to spread knowledge about the local canal system, its history and heritage and its value to the environment.”

“We welcome interest from anyone who is not yet a member and who would like to volunteer to help us spread the word.”

Hawne Basin was an interchange basin for the Great Western Railway and was used for the shipment of tubes from the Coombeswood works of Stewarts and Lloyds/BSC until the railway closed in 1967.

The trust has had a productive 2014 and has helped clean up both the basin and the canals.

In April the trust used its “joey boat” Ringo to transport rubbish from Dudley Canal Number 2 with the help of volunteers and The Canal and Rivers Trust which supplied a driver and lorry to unload the rubbish at its wharf near Windmill End.

Mrs Hatton added: “Maintain, improve and restore are the three words which sum up the reason for the Coombeswood Canal Trust and our aim is to look after the canal local to us.”

The Sunday, December 14 adventure day starts at 10am and for more information email coombeswood@btconnect.com or www.hawnebasin.org.uk