Santa Claus suffered a dreaded wardrobe malfunction this week – when his trousers fell down in front of a crowd of 30 people.

Fergus Kent, from St Albans Road, Kingston, had to put on a brave face in front of mums and kids, after his Santa Claus outfit unravelled and fell to the floor.

The 57-year-old has been donning the famous costume at the St Andrews Church playgroup in Ham for the past five years.

Explaining this year’s embarrassing escapade, he said: “They start playing the music, I’ve got the bag of toys on my shoulder saying “Ho, ho, ho”.

“The next thing you know, I look up and realise everyone’s laughing, and my wife is running to me, pulling my trousers up.”

Fortunately for Mr Kent, he had his trousers on underneath his costume.

“That would’ve been even more embarrassing if I didn’t have my trousers. All the mums were already balling about. They couldn’t stop laughing.”

Surrey Comet:

Fergus Kent has been playing Santa at St Andrews Church playgroup in Ham for the past five years

Mr Kent has been a registered childminder for nearly 20 years and previously used to run a fruit stall at Kingston Market.

Over the past year, he has become more health conscious, and taken up running to keep himself slim.

He joked: “I’m probably one of the skinniest Santas out there.

“The kids didn’t even realise, it was the mums and other childminders that couldn’t stop laughing.”

Surrey Comet:

But a new fitness regime may have cost him this year

He can’t give up his Santa outfit just yet, as he will be donning the costume at Latchmere School next week.

He said: “I’m going to make sure I have a pair of braces on and doubly secure it.”