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SANTA is swapping his sleigh for a limo this year in a bid to “save Christmas” for Renfrewshire families.
Robert McKillop has run First Class Limousines for 15 years but the five-car firm is enjoying its biggest ever boom after deciding to offer tours of the area’s festive lights to fed-up residents.
Those who have signed up to take part with their household can look forward to an hour-long festive ride and singalong in a 27-feet-long Lincoln Town car, adorned with antlers, a red nose, tinsel and lights.
Robert, who even wears Santa’s suit for the occasion, told The Gazette: “All of my bookings are within Renfrewshire. It’s all families – mum, dads, grannies, grandads and their children.
“Parents have said to me that I’ve saved Christmas because they’ve been stuck at home doing nothing and now they have something to look forward.
“It’s up to them where they want go. By December 5, when I start, all of the festive lights will be on or customers might want to go past someone’s house to give them a wave.”
The grandad-of-four has been providing Christmas limo rides for a number of years but almost decided not to this year after experiencing a huge downturn in business since the beginning of the pandemic.
He changed his mind two weeks ago after being encouraged by taking a Neilston family out to celebrate their daughter’s 18th birthday.
After advertising on social media, the Paisley man was so inundated with requests that he turned down a job offer from the Royal Mail, which he applied for to try to make ends meet.
He added: “I used to take families up to the pantomime and people to Christmas nights out or a hotel or restaurant but nothing at all came in this year. Business has been so bad.
“Then I put something on social media and, by the next day, I was swamped with enquiries. I’ve never been so busy.
“People are just trying to keep their kids entertained. They can’t go to Santa’s grotto but this will let them feel a bit Christmassy.”
For more details, visit www.firstclasslimosscotland.co.uk.
