Christmas came early for staff at a Birmingham charity set up to help the bereaved families of youngsters who die suddenly from heart problems.

Santa delivered his first gift of 2009 - a cheque for £1,000 to CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). 

The charity was founded by Harborne-based former cab driver Roy Ball after his 16-year-old son Andrew died suddenly from an undetected heart problem more than 25 years ago. 

The cash was raised by a host of good Samaritans, including grandfather-of-12 Alan Weavin. 

He clocked up £510 by transforming his Quinton home into a winter wonderland, with a Santa's grotto in his back garden. 

"I was delighted this year to have all kinds of visitors - many local, but some from all over the world." said Alan, 55, of Norman Avenue, who began supporting CRY after the sudden death of a friend's son. 

Staff at the Harborne offices of Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG), a firm helping the unemployed back to work, helped by donating £250. 

The government-funded business heard of the charity through Claire Weavin, Alan's eldest daughter. 

PPDG's employment coach Michaela Hill said: "CRY is something I'd never had brought to my attention and when I heard from a client her dad supported the charity I wanted to help.  Whilst Alan is raising funds for a worthy cause he is also making young children's Christmas as they get to see Santa without the cost of more commercial grottos, helping parents." 

Staff at PPDG raised cash through a scheme which each month sees employees donating from their salary. 

A spokesman for CRY, whose patrons include comedian David Walliams, said: "We're so grateful, it means so much to us and the work we don, not only helping provide bereavement support but fighting for better health services for those children at risk of heart problems."