What promises to be the most elaborate Christmas grotto in Norfolk was conceived to keep the memory of a man's much-loved daughter alive.

Graham Laycock, from Easton, is planning the grotto for the Railway Tavern in Dereham, which will raise money for the charity Sudep Action and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Mr Laycock, 66, lost his daughter, Claire, to Sudep - sudden unexpected death in epilepsy - when she was just 28.

She was five months pregnant when she was found dead at her home in 2017.

Dereham Times: Graham Laycock from Easton is organising The Railway Tavern’s Santas Grotto this December to raise money for SUDEP ActionGraham Laycock from Easton is organising The Railway Tavern’s Santas Grotto this December to raise money for SUDEP Action (Image: Aaron McMillan)

Mr Laycock said: “If I didn’t do this, I would be angry all the time, it's a good coping strategy, to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.

“My daughter loved Christmas, she could not wait for Christmas every year and I think all these crazy ideas I have is what she would do.

"Plus if we spread awareness for Sudep then she did not die in vain.”

Mr Laycock's 91-year-old father will travel from Watford to play the role of Santa.

Dereham Times: The items families will get by going along to The Railway Tavern’s Santa's Grotto this DecemberThe items families will get by going along to The Railway Tavern’s Santa's Grotto this December (Image: Aaron McMillan)

Children will be able to take part in games and quizzes with prizes on offer before meeting Santa in his grotto.

Thanks to Mr Laycock's planning, Father Christmas will already know the names of the children and their parents' names.  

They will have the chance to take a photo with costumed characters in the snow.

This is not the first immersive experience created by Mr Laycock, who is a taxi driver for school children.

Dereham Times: The elf is one of the characters who will be at The Railway Tavern’s Santa's Grotto this DecemberThe elf is one of the characters who will be at The Railway Tavern’s Santa's Grotto this December (Image: Aaron McMillan)

During the pandemic, he created a pirate trail around Easton and ran a Christmas grotto from his front garden in 2020 and 2021.

Dereham Times: Graham Laycock hosted previous events in Easton, including a pirate's trail and a Santa’s Grotto Graham Laycock hosted previous events in Easton, including a pirate's trail and a Santa’s Grotto (Image: Graham Laycock)

Paul Sandford, landlord of the Yaxham Road pub, said: “My grandson had life-saving surgery as a baby at Great Ormand Street Hospital and they are an amazing organisation. 

“My best friend's life was saved by Great Ormond Street 50 years ago so we have a very strong connection they are incredible.”

Tickets cost £15, with £5 going to each charity, with the remaining £5 to the running costs.

Dereham Times: Graham Laycock hosted previous events in Easton, including a pirate's trail and a Santa’s Grotto Graham Laycock hosted previous events in Easton, including a pirate's trail and a Santa’s Grotto (Image: Graham Laycock)

Text 07765555170 to book.