SANTA took up residence at Tullie House as families enjoyed a weekend of fabulous festive fun.

Christmas crafts, messy play, face painting and The Amazing Thing puppet show were among the attractions on offer.

But it was Santa who stole the show in his grotto as he sat alongside a real wolf which is normally part of the Carlisle museum’s taxidermy display.

Sarah Forster, the venue’s schools and families coordinator, said: “This enhances the regular Tullie experience. Everybody loves Christmas and this is all about getting our regular visitors to come in and celebrate Christmas with us.”

“We have pulled out bits of the museum, such as the taxidermy, and using that to enhance the Christmas experience.”

With all the winter fun, her favourite part was the Christmas slime ,although she did manage to get covered in it.

Along with all the activities, Tullie House had a Brothers Grimm-style puppet show.

Lempen Puppet Theatre returned, having hosted a show in the museum over the summer. The group combined a number of different fairytales and created a character called the Amazing Thing.

Meeting Santa was the highlight for most of the children who paid the museum

Alice Plumley, a four-year-old from Carlisle, talked about what she had been doing and said: “ I have been looking in the wolf’s mouth.”

Thomas Messenger, five, said: “ I’ve been making crafts and seeing Santa who said I have been a good boy”

Sister Grace, also five, added: “Seeing Santa was really fun.”

Their mother, Amy Messenger, said: “It’s been brilliant here. We love Tullie House and the children have been really excited to come and see Santa and get their faces painted.”

The main man gave his verdict on the weekend events, saying: “It’s absolutely fantastic here, and the children have been wonderfully perfect.”

He left with a parting message for the families of Cumbria: “Behave always behave and do what you mothers, fathers, grandparents or carers or whoever looks after you do as they say and behave.”

Santa had a busy weekend as he enjoyed a whole host of parties and events.