It’s tradition, if you believe the words of the well-known Christmas song, for Santa to get stuck up the chimney due to the size of his stomach.
But there’s a completely different sticking point for this Santa, which is still on top of Smelt Memorial in Castletown’s Market Square despite the fact that he and his trusty reindeer should have long returned to the North Pole for a well-earned break.
The regeneration works in the square mean that it’s impossible to bring the Santa down from the top of the column – meaning that he’s been left to fend for himself in the stormy conditions since Christmas.
Complete with his sack full of presents, he paints a lonely picture on top of the memorial, which is also still bedecked with long trails of lights.
Market Square is currently closed to traffic while the works go ahead.
The scheme, which also includes The Parade, includes an overhaul of paving, seating and lighting as well as a new parking system to help with the staging of events.
Castletown MHK Richard Ronan has said the works ‘will be a catalyst for Castletown’s future prosperity’.
Smelt Memorial was erected by public subscription in memory of Colonel Cornelius Smelt, a popular Lieutenant Governor who died in 1832.
It was intended to act as a base for an urn. There were then plans for a statue but insufficient funds were available.