Meet Santa’s little helper . . . nine-year-old Aimee Tromans will be the VIP guest of honour when Santa’s grotto opens for business in Telford Town Centre tonight.

Aimee, of Walker Crescent, St Georges, won a Shropshire Star competition to join Santa when he takes the wraps off his festive kingdom this evening.

We asked readers to tell us why they deserved to get the chance to meet Santa Claus and his six real reindeer at the Telford centre tonight.

Aimee said: “I deserve to be chosen because this year I have had to have two operations at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for my cleft palate, which meant I had a really swollen face and had to miss weeks of school.

“I still managed to keep my school work up to date. My mom said I was really brave, even though I couldn’t talk, smile or even eat properly for a month.

“I hope next year I won’t have to have any more operations.”Santa was due to be pulled around the shopping centre by his reindeer from about 4.45pm, before arriving in Sherwood Square to perform the official opening of the grotto at 6pm.

People can see the reindeer, which will be based next to Shop Mobility near to the McDonald’s entrance to the shopping centre, until about 7pm.

Yesterday, crowds turned out for the switching on of Telford’s Rotary Tree of Light in the shopping centre.

The Right Reverend Jonathan Gledhill, the Bishop of Lichfield, flicked the switch to light up the tree.

Representatives from the four rotary clubs of Telford – Ironbridge, Wellington and The Wrekin – will run the appeal.

The appeal gives people the chance to sponsor a light on the Christmas tree in memory of a loved one.

This year’s campaign will be raising funds for Severn Hospice; Age Concern Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin; Macmillan Cancer Support; Home-Start Telford & Wrekin; and Telford Community First Responders.