The Bishop of Hereford is encouraging people to bring something of the meaning of Christmas into their festivities by attending a carol service.

The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis was visited at his official residence by Santa Claus and a trio of reindeer ahead of their tour of Hereford.

“We chatted over the sort of work each of us would be doing in the next couple of weeks and I ‘m pleased to say that Santa told me how much he enjoys a good traditional carol service,” he said.

“The good thing there is that everyone can go along to one in their local church to get something of the real meaning of the season into their Christmas.”

Bishop Priddis will spend a lot of the Christmas season in Hereford Cathedral, where he will preside at the early Christmas Day Eucharist before attending the family service later in the day.

He said the cathedral was repeating its carol services in the week leading up to Christmas Day because of the high demand for tickets.

The tour of Santa and the reindeer was organised by the City Centre Forum and Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Diocese of Hereford and the cathedral.

He said: “We feel quite privileged to think he has found time for a pre-festive trip to Hereford at this very busy time. And we in the church are only too happy to support our local businesses.”

In a letter to parishes across the Diocese of Hereford this month, the Bishop of Ludlow the Rt Rev Alistair Magowan urged Christians to stand up for the message of Christmas.

He said a growing number of people wanted to silence the story of the season while keeping the festivities.

"There is a story of a church carol service where the misprinted first line of the carol read 'Away with the Manger’,” he said. “Sadly a growing lobby want to do just that and silence the Christmas message. Keep the tinsel and the frills but throw out the baby."

He added: “What I cannot quite understand is why people feel such a need unless there is something here they find uncomfortable or wish to silence. Nearly always it is those of no faith and not those of other faiths who shout."

The bishop reminded people that the sentimental images often associated with Christmas belied the suffering of God.

He said: “Here is God embracing poverty accepting frailty, becoming a refugee, experiencing political repression and eventually dying falsely accused a criminal's death.”