SANTA is set to go green in Ayrshire this year as he partners with Stagecoach to make his rounds in an all-electric bus.

For the third consecutive year, Santa will join the bus company to bring festive cheer to communities across the region.

In a change from the trademark red colour, Santa is going green this year. He will be making his rounds in the new Enviro100EV bus, the world’s-first electric midi bus, that was launched in Ayr, Kilmarnock, and Irvine last month.

Santa, along with a team of merry elves, will be travelling across Irvine, Kilmarnock and Ayr to greet children who will be able to hop on board the bus to meet Santa in his specially designed grotto and receive a special gift.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto will be available free of charge and can be secured at eventbrite.co.uk/o/stagecoach-west-scotland-37762297593 .

A donation of £3 is suggested which will go to the Night Before Christmas Campaign.

Fiona Doherty, Stagecoach West Scotland managing director said: “We are thrilled to be running our fantastic Santa’s Grotto again this year.

"This initiative brings joy to many families across our service areas during the Christmas season, while also supporting the Night Before Christmas Campaign.

"This year, Santa will be going green on our new Enviro100EV bus, spreading festive cheer with a purpose: making our planet a cleaner, greener place.”

Stagecoach West Scotland has also announced this year’s festive timetables with regular bus services running across West Scotland to get you where you need to be over the festive period.

On Christmas Eve, all West Scotland services will follow a normal Tuesday (non-school day) timetable, with early finishes.

On New Year’s Eve, all West Scotland services will follow a normal Saturday timetable, with early finishes.

Between Christmas and New Year, services will operate a Saturday timetable, excluding Dumfries, which will follow a normal non-school day service.

On Boxing Day, Dumfries and Galloway bus services will not run, other than services 236/246 and 358/360 going into Ayrshire.

The festive timetables are on the Stagecoach website at stagecoachbus.com/timetables.