CHRISTMAS will come early for residents on a housing estate near Lacock, who have set up a Santa's grotto in a block of flats.

The grotto is complete with snow on the windows, a Christmas tree and decorations, and has been housed in the right-hand block of the Rosemary House flats on the Corsham Road housing estate.

People living on the estate, two miles from picturesque Lacock, have claimed the area is in a terrible state, with overflowing bins and grass verges strewn with rubbish.

Last week, 12 residents spent two days making up the Santa's grotto.

It will be opened up as part of a fair on the estate, but Carol Elford, 46, of Rosemary House, said it has not yet been decided when the fair will take place or who will play Santa.

"It's going to be a lovely day and we are inviting members of Westlea Housing Association and North Wiltshire District Council," said Mrs Elford.

She said a cleaner had also visited the estate last week, for the first time in four years.

She said a window cleaner also started on Monday, employed by Westlea, and will visit every three months.

Mrs Elford said residents have also agreed to keep a log of incidents and problems to build up better links with local agencies.