The cold weather which hit Oxfordshire over the weekend was appreciated by at least one visitor – Father Christmas.

Today, 32 days early, Santa Claus greeted children at Notcutts garden centre, in Nuneham Courtenay – arriving on a horse-drawn carriage.

He met youngsters in his icy grotto, which staff at the garden centre had taken weeks to make.

Manager Emma Haslam said: “The weather held-off, so luckily Father Christmas didn’t get wet when he arrived – pulled along by two beautiful black horses.

“Santa liked his grotto. It was a work of art we had been working on for a number of weeks.”

Ms Haslam said about 50 children had passed through the grotto by midday, and many more were waiting patiently.

A dusting of snow fell in areas across Oxfordshire this morning.

Early morning risers discovered snow on vehicles and the ground.

Met Office forecasters had predicted that the county would see snow after temperatures dropped dramatically over the weekend.

Forecaster Andy Bodenham said: “We don’t know exactly which areas of Oxfordshire had snow as we rely on the Highways Agency and members of the public.

“Looking ahead there is a chance we will have another cold weekend next week.”