IT was a family affair at Cardwell Garden Centre as four generations of the same family continued their 50 year tradition of visiting the garden centre's Christmas wonderland.

Gourock great-gran Sheila Hotchkiss, 83, her daughter Mairi Cameron, 59, and granddaughters Rebecca Curtis, 31 joined Eve Jenkins, 29, and Rebecca’s two-year-old daughter, Beth and Eve’s sons, Alex, seven, and four-year-old Charlie to continue their special tradition of visiting Santa at the centre.

Rebecca said: “It was a tradition started by my gran for us all to come together as a family and go to Cardwell to see Santa.

“Even after all those years we’re still doing that and after the children have seen Father Christmas in his grotto we all have a traditional Christmas turkey dinner in Cardwell’s restaurant.

"We love going every year.

“Before Beth was born, I used to take my nephews Alex and Charlie to see Santa, but now my daughter Beth has joined us and is continuing the tradition.”

Rebecca said their Christmas visit to Cardwell is an important part of the festivities.

She added: “When I was a wee girl it was a big thing for me to be taken to Cardwell to see Santa and to choose our Christmas tree and the decorations.

“It was the first festive thing of the year we did and it was amazing to see the bright lights and hear the brass band playing when we arrived at the centre.

“I used to get excited waiting to see Santa, but sometimes I would worry if he thought I had been naughty or nice during the year!”

Cardwell’s retail general manager Paul Carmichael says everyone at the centre is thrilled by the part they play in the family's special Christmas tradition.

He said: “It’s heartwarming to hear about a family that gets together every year at Cardwell to start off their festive celebrations.

“We’re very much family oriented and everything we do around Christmas is aimed at getting people into the festive spirit and to make sure the magic of Santa is kept alive for the children who visit us.”