The fire truck's sirens sounded when Santa pulled in the churchyard but the children were nowhere to be seen.

They were busy singing and dancing in their Christmas play on Friday at St. Anthony's Church, Warwick.

The earlybird Santa mumbled to himself while he eagerly awaited the children's arrival.

The lone presents sat on the back of the fire truck waiting to be collected by the children.

"This is Kiddie Academy's eighth year having Santa arrive but our first on a fire truck," said owner Sharon DeSilva.

Finally, the children poured out of the church doors to meet the mysterious man in red.

He belted out his trademark "Ho, Ho, Ho's" and gave the children their gifts.

A few youngsters began to cry at the sight of the long bearded man, others were eager to meet him.

Ms DeSilva told The Royal Gazette that the gifts were donated by XL Capital.

The children received the book 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.