Letter: The truth about Santa will out

Sir: Aged four, I was taken to see Father Christmas, seated in his grotto at our local department store. Questioned as to my wants for Christmas, I replied "a fairy bike" (as children's bicycles were then termed). Some 66 years later, I remember his words to this day: "You shall have it, my son." The much-wanted present never materialised - how could it have, given my parents' financial situation? As far as I was concerned, there existed no need for any further outside influence to destroy my belief in that particular myth.

Yours faithfully,

John Douch

Wellingborough,

Northamptonshire