AN AWARD-winning fish and chip shop is running a free festive grotto event this Christmas so "all children have the chance to see santa".

Lowford Fish Bar on Portsmouth Road, Bursledon is hosting the festivities for the second year running and owners Karen Whitlock and Rogerio Figueira pride themselves in making their events inclusive of everyone.

Karen said: "Ever since we brought the shop two and a half years ago, we have been running community events during the holidays. We started with big Halloween displays but last year we trialled a Christmas event.

"It's all for the community of Bursledon and the children who live there, it's great to see everyone come together have a great time. We do it for free because we know that not everyone has the money to take their kids to see Santa."

The event starts on Monday December 23 at 5.30pm, where santa will arrive in a fire engine decorated in Christmas lights.

Here he will enter the grotto outside of the fish bar, where all children will have the chance to meet him and be given a small gift for free.

Also on offer is a limited addition Christmas menu, including popular items from last year like battered pigs in blankets, stuffing balls and sprouts, as well as new items such as battered parsnips and mince pies.

Many local businesses have offered donations to the event including the local One Stop shop offering a selection of sweets, and cash donations coming from Pomodoro Pizza and Nigel's Barbers, to pay for some of the toys that children will receive from the grotto.

The popular fast food shop has raked in plenty of awards since being taken over, including the 'Good Food' award for Fish and Chips in 2019 and the 'People's Choice' award at the FOODit Independent Take Away Awards 2019.