A plan to spread some festive cheer in a Fife village has snowballed into an annual fundraising campaign.
Bobby Tomlinson and John “Soapi” Shields, two friends from Cardenden, spread the Christmas spirit by touring their Santa Train.
It created a buzz throughout the community, with many residents taking to Facebook to show their appreciation. The friends have been described as an inspiration and a credit to the village.
As well as delighting local children, they brought the lit-up locomotive to Rachel House Hospice in Kinross and donated £400 to Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (Chas).
Mr Shields, 42, said he never imagined what started as a makeshift train powered by a lawnmower would grow into a local phenomenon.
“I’d like to thank everybody. The response has been great and it’s such a privilege for us.“People have been saying well done, but all we want is to see kids smiling. It only started as a small thing. We weren’t expecting the papers to contact us.
“Cardenden is the best wee village to stay in. I’m proud of Cardenden.”
Mr Tomlinson, dressed as Santa, and Mr Shields, as an elf, braved a downpour to take the train around Bowhill. They visited every part of Cardenden, delivering selection boxes.
“Every kid who was out in Cardenden got a selection box,” Mr Shields said.
On Wednesday last week, it was the turn of youngsters at Rachel House to get the Santa Train treatment. They were given teddy bears by the Cardenden visitors.
Mr Shields thanked hospice staff for allowing them to meet the children there, including a four-month-old baby. He said it was an emotional visit.
“The parents and grandparents there were so welcoming. It was such a privilege, being asked to go in and see the children. The staff are amazing, absolutely fantastic.”
He added: “We’d like to make it a regular occurrence for Rachel House. Next year, hopefully, it will be bigger and better.”
The train was the idea of full-time father Mr Tomlinson, who initially made it for his children, Rebecca and Dechlan. Mr Tomlinson, 40, made the carriages out of plastic barrels on sack trolleys.
He said the first ride-on lawnmower he used for the engine was not powerful enough and a more sturdy tractor had to be brought in. “Quite often, we had to push it up the hill,” he said.
He added: “At the back is a double seater where John sits to make sure everybody is OK. Then there’s a trailer which holds all the treats and an inflatable polar bear. It was such a privilege to go to Rachel House and put smiles on the children’s faces.”