A father and son dressed as Santa Claus and an elf have been prosecuted after collecting charity money from shoppers in two Welsh town centres.

Clifford and Luke Evans have been ordered to pay almost £2,000 after being caught taking donations from members of the public in both Carmarthen and Ammanford in sealed containers bearing the name of the mental health charity, Mind.

While they were collecting money, they were approached by a licensing officer from Carmarthenshire council in December 2017 who asked if the pair had a permit - something the council say must be produced at all times on request.

Clifford Evans, of Pennant Avenue in Saundersfoot, who was dressed as Santa Claus, said he was unaware that he needed a permit.

However, the 50-year-old had been issued with a warning over a previous incident which had occurred a year earlier. He also said that he had not informed Mind of the collection because he was doing it "as a surprise" for the charity.

Merlin's Walk in Carmarthen

The council officer then approached Evans’ son, who was dressed as an elf.

Luke Evans, aged 25 and from Kingsmoor Common in Begelly, was also carrying a similar collection box and explained that he didn’t need a permit because he was collecting for his father.

Police were called and both father and son were escorted to their car. Inside the boot officers discovered another fancy dress costume, an open bucket of cash, another collection box with the Mind logo emblazoned on it, and almost £100 in cash.

Staff from Mind were then contacted and confirmed that they knew nothing of the collections.

Both Evans senior and Evans junior said they had not collected elsewhere, but CCTV footage captured in Carmarthen town centre proved otherwise - they were both seen collecting money in Merlin’s Walk shopping centre just two days prior to the incident in Ammanford.

At Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, the pair’s solicitor said they had intended to give all of the money to charity all along and that Clifford Evans had previously carried out a sky dive to raise money for Help the Heroes, and collected for other charities.

Of the previous warning issued to Clifford Evans, the solicitor argued that his client was illiterate and did not understand the requirements.

Clifford and Luke Evans being escorted to their car in Ammanford by police

Carmarthenshire council said there was “no proof” that the money being collected would ever have ended up with Mind.

“It is against the law to collect money from people on the streets without the proper permit,”  said Philip Hughes, the council’s executive board member for public protection.

“This is something Clifford Evans had previously been made aware of but despite this he continued to collect with his son, having no proof that the money was actually going to the charity.

"We are very happy to assist anyone who wishes to collect for a charity to ensure they are doing so within the law.”

Clifford Evans and Luke Evans were each fined £400 and must both pay £544.11 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered that the £99.65 that was recovered from their car be paid to Mind.