Manchester Museum’s beloved Tyrannosaurus rex, Stan, is getting into the festive spirit by pulling on his Santa hat for a charity gift appeal.

Stan’s Secret Santa will run from Tuesday 5 December until Friday 8 December and Stan will wear the giant hat, created by artist Lucy Burscough, to welcome donations for people experiencing homelessness and poverty across Manchester.

Visitors will be encouraged to pay the famous T. rex a visit in the Museum’s Fossils Gallery throughout the four days, to drop gifts and take a selfie with ‘Stanta Claws’.

Manchester Museum is appealing for donations of new, unwrapped Christmas gifts and new, seasonal food items, including festive cakes, chocolate selection boxes and chocolate Santas, as well as wrapping paper and Christmas cards.

All gifts will be gathered by Stanta’s elves at the end of the appeal and passed to Barnabus and Mustard Tree, who will distribute them in time for Christmas. But if you’re unable to come along and make a donation in person you can support these wonderful Manchester charities by donating via the Barnabus website or the Mustard Tree website and marking donations ‘Stan’s Secret Santa’.