Santa will be paying an early visit to a children’s hospice on Tuesday, with the help of a Yeadon aviation company and Leeds Bradford Airport.

Multiflight and LBA have joined forces to fly Santa in with presents to Martin House children’s hospice in Boston Spa.

Two of his helpers will be former England and Yorkshire cricketer Ryan Sidebottom and fellow Yorkshire cricketer Jack Brooks.

Multiflight is providing a Dauphin helicopter to help give youngsters a Christmas to remember. Staff and passengers at the airport have donated presents for the children and their siblings.

The aviation company’s charter manager Linda Nicholls said: “It’s wonderful to be able to give the children, their families and the staff at the hospice a special Christmas treat and Multiflight is delighted to be able to do this.

“It is very exciting that Santa will be joined by two Yorkshire cricketers on the helicopter this year. It will be a real thrill for the children and their families. It’s great that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is supporting the visit.”

Cricketer Ryan added: “Martin House does amazing things for very poorly children. To be able to take time out of my busy schedule to make this Christmas memorable for the children and their families at Martin House is a real privilege and honour for me.”

Tony Hallwood, from LBA, said: “It’s magnificent to see the children’s faces light up when Santa arrives with his sack of presents. We want to make sure that the children and families at Martin House hospice have a really memorable day.

“Martin House is a fantastic, deserving charity which we have proudly supported for a number of years.”

Sheila O’Leary, from the hospice, thanked everyone involved.

“Santa arriving in his helicopter is one of the most magical visits to Martin House,” she said.

“Some of the children are too poorly or find it difficult to see Santa in his grotto and it is lovely to be able to bring Santa to them and for them to experience this memorable event.”