Family's tribute to 'Liverpool's Father Christmas'

Stanley Fullerton was well known for decorating his home on Kremlin Drive

A great-grandad who spent decades "spreading Christmas joy" has died aged 87.

Stanley Fullerton became known as "Liverpool's Father Christmas" for his volunteer work in festive grottos across the city and for decorating his home every year in festive lights.

His house on Kremlin Drive, which also included a grotto, became such an attraction in the late 1990s that police would have to help direct traffic on nearby Queens Drive.

His granddaughter Sarah Standley said he was a "wonderful grandad who loved making people happy".

Mr Fullerton's decorating process was the focus of a documentary in 2002

"He loved his family and he was an amazing person," she said.

"As a child he had grown up without very much and he missed out on a lot so he had always wanted to make sure everyone could experience the magic of Christmas".

Originally from the Isle of Man, Mr Fullerton moved to Liverpool in the 1950s and went on to have six children, 19 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Liverpool Lord Mayor and Mr Fullerton during the Liverpool Christmas parade

His love of Christmas originally started for his own children and grew bigger each year along with his family, Ms Standley said.

"He started doing it for the kids, he just loved bringing people together.

"He would always be the person to organised a party, he'd decorate the street for street parties, he just loved bringing joy."

Few people decorated their homes to such an extent in the 1990s and soon people were travelling from across the city to see the Kremlin Drive display which included a 32ft (9.75m) tall Father Christmas.

Mr Fullerton's grotto attracted celebrities including comedian Ken Dodd

It became so well known that Mr Fullerton and his wife of 65 years, Angela, would receive cards and letters addressed to "Santa" at "Santa's Grotto" on Kremlin Drive.

"He started decorating the grotto inside in June and would finish the outside in November," Ms Standley said, "but the decorations always came down after Christmas because my nan wanted her sofa back in the living room".

Mr Fullerton also volunteered as Father Christmas for grottos across Liverpool including Alder Hey Children's Hospital and also took part in the city's annual Christmas parade.

"He would've had Christmas all year round if he could have," Ms Standley said," he just loved it.

"His attitude was no one should have to pay for the magic of Christmas.

"We were very lucky to have such a fun and loving grandad for so long".