Cupar ‘Santa Claude’ rumours are just a Damme hoax

A prankster who convinced Cupar that Chesney Hawkes was switching on their Christmas lights appears to have struck again, as posters have been plastered over the town claiming Jean Claude van Damme will be at this year’s ceremony.

Some residents were left angry and disappointed in 2010 after claims one-hit wonder Hawkes was being “proudly presented” by Cupar Round Table turned out to be false.

Now posters have gone up around town claiming “The Santa Claude” is coming to town.

It claims the Muscles from Brussels will be arriving in the town on December 7 to do the honours. However, it seems most locals will not be fooled again.

One year the joker also claimed that Frank Bruno was coming to “punch the lights on”.

News of the poster campaign quickly spread on Facebook.

One person said: “The Christmas lights switch-on hoax is an institution now.

“We wait with bated breath to see which ‘celebrity’ is mentioned.”

The first year, when the “one and only” Chesney Hawkes was billed to appear, townsfolk really were taken in by the prank but since then they’ve got wise to his or her antics.