See inside the AMAZING Christmas grotto in Seaham that's spreading festive magic to families across the North East

Parkside Community Centre in Seaham has spent decades putting on a festive experience for visitors and this year they have made their biggest grotto yet.

Featuring five different rooms filled with seasonal decorations, the centre has been transformed into a winter wonderland.

Denise Cameron, 60, has been a volunteer at the centre for 20 years and helped to put on the display once again.

She said their efforts attract around 600 visitors every year, with families travelling from as far as Leeds and Darlington to see their grotto.

Funds raised from the entry fee then go back into the community centre which provides various groups to cater for all age ranges.

Denise said: “We do it every year and it gets bigger and bigger every year.

“We try to do something different each year and this time it has taken us two months to do.

“We have a team of eight volunteers that build the grotto and any money made from it goes back into the centre.

“It is open every weekend in December and we also hold a raffle and a tombola to raise further funds.”

Once inside the grotto, children are escorted around by an elf before enjoying the festive films, snowball fights and a raffle.

The themed rooms include Santa’s workshop and a coca-cola truck, along with Frozen and a Snowman themed corridor.

For the first time, there is also a special war room, paying tribute to the armed forces.

The lights and decorations used are donated by members of the community.

Denise continued: “This has been the first year we held an autism day for youngsters with the condition so they could enjoy the experience but have it catered to their needs.

“We held it on Sunday, December 1, and 50 children came along.”

The grotto is open on from 11am to 4pm on December 7 and December 8, from 12pm to 4pm on December 14 and December 15, 11am to 4pm on December 21 and December 22.

Entry is £3 per child and £1 per adult.