West Lothian mechanic becomes SantaLAD after turning a car into a sleigh for charity

A mechanic from West Lothian who has transformed a car into a sleigh to raise money for charity has been dubbed ''SantaLAD''.

Yesterday evening a Twitter user spotted Santa on Lothian Road and couldn't believe her eyes.

Her post reads: ''There’s a guy who’s actual turned his car inty a light up sleigh n drivin about Edinburgh wi an elf am no jokin.''

He has since been dubbed SantaLAD, with the post receiving over three thousands likes and over 500 re-tweets.

Who is SantaLAD?

But there is a lot more to this story than first meets the eye.

The sleigh belongs to The Garage in Whitburn and began in 2015 as ''a way say thanks to our customers'' owner, Ian Robertson, told Edinburgh Live in an exclusive interview.

In three years this special sleigh - which is actually a converted Suzuki Vitara (with insurance and MOT) - has ''exploded'' in popularity.

Last night the sleigh had been returning from an ''ad-hoc'' visit to the Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh - one the many stops on this year's visit list.

Ian told us: ''Young kids believe its Santa. Everywhere we go people like it. There wasn't a set of traffic lights that people weren't taking photos.

''It did 850 miles last year and is pitching 300 this year.''

SantaLAD needs YOUR help

This is all made possible by a fourteen-strong team of volunteers who work at the garage and give up their time to spread Christmas cheer.

They do it for a good cause, cheering up people wherever they can, and ask anyone who can to make a donation to Disability West Lothian via this page.

Ian is also asking businesses to help fit the bill of next year's sleigh - which cost around £1,000 to build - by supplying ''wood, paint, decorations and lights'' and valuable funds.

He adds, ''nobody donates to this, we could build two or three of these cars but the problem is that one costs about £1,000.

''If more people got behind it, it could go to all the hospitals and care homes in the area.''

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