Ivybridge’s much-loved Santa street collections will not take place this Christmas, after the Rotary Club said it no longer has enough members to organise the tradition safely.

The annual visits have become part of the festive calendar for generations of local families, raising thousands of pounds for good causes and community projects.

In 2025, the collections raised £7,500, but the club has been forced to call off this year’s rounds because of dwindling membership and a lack of people able to fulfil key roles.

Rotary member Jo Derrick said: “We know that there will be many disappointed children and their families but we just do not have the capacity to organise and run these due to lack of Rotary members.”

The club currently has 13 individual members and one corporate member, but work commitments and health reasons mean not everyone can help with the collectionss this year.

Ms Derrick said offers of help from residents had been encouraging, but the event required a core team of experienced Rotarians to meet organisational and insurance requirements.

The club hopes to bring Santa’s sleigh back to Ivybridge in 2027, with growing its membership a key priority.

Resident and town councillor Alan Spencer described the announcement as sad news, saying the visits had been part of the “Ivybridge Diary” for generations.

“I do hope this is just a temporary blip,” he said, adding that volunteering played an important role in providing community activities.

Sophie Cade, Community Engagement Chair at Ivybridge Town Council, said discussions were under way about how the council might support Rotary, although no alternative arrangements had been agreed.

Despite the cancellation, children will still have the chance to meet Santa and Mrs Christmas at the Ivybridge Christmas Fayre on November 27, when the town’s lights will be switched on.

There will also be a static collection at Tesco nearer Christmas.

For now, Santa’s message to Ivybridge’s children is to “be good and be happy” — with hopes that his familiar sleigh will return next year.