A small town in New Zealand has banned children from sitting on Santa's knee because organisers fear liability if anything goes wrong.
Instead, children in the South Island village of Mosgiel will be asked to sit next to Santa, on specially decorated “elf chairs”, as they discuss their Christmas wish list.
Organiser Gail Thompson, secretary of the Mosgiel Business Association that is organising the event, says the precaution is “ridiculous” but necessary.
She fears children could come back in at a later date with allegations about Santa's behaviour.
“None of us really want the risk of someone saying in 15 years' time 'When we sat on Santa's knee at market day… so they are sitting on elves' chairs.”
Graham Glass, who will be Santa, was less than impressed.
“It's bloody ridiculous – I can't believe we have become so politically correct.”
The town has also declared that vying for lollipops in a free-for-all would be too dangerous for the children.
They will instead be handed sweets from a basket.
How ridiculous. Just how far is this PC crap going to go? Maybe I was scarred for life!!
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What a gorgeous child you were Jen, with such a sweet smile! You are completely recognisable in that photo.
That is ridiculous. PC really can go too far. It removes the charm from seeing Santa!
I can see for some that it would be an improvement on forcing the poor terrified toddlers you see every year to sit, screaming, on the strange man’s knee.
There has to be a suitable middle ground – surely it would be better for the children to have a choice.