SANTA was stopped from throwing sweets at children during the switch on of this year’s Christmas lights in Enniskillen due to ‘elf and safety’, it has emerged.
In previous years Santa and his team of elves distributed sweets at the Diamond, sometimes through the air, in order to reach as many of the large crowd as possible.
But this year’s event organised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council did not include flying sweets which did not go unnoticed by some parents who contacted this newspaper. 
In response, a Council spokeswoman said: “The practice of throwing sweets into the crowd at the Enniskillen Christmas lights switch on event has not taken place over the last number of years in the interest of health and safety.”
“More than £300 worth of sweets were distributed to children, as is customary, by Santa and his helpers at this year’s Enniskillen Christmas lights switch on event. The barrier at this year’s event was also extended to enable Santa to meet as many children as possible,” she added.
The Enniskillen event included face painting, balloon modelling, stilt walkers and cartoon characters and music was provided by the Marty Fay Band, while in Omagh, chart topping country singer Lisa McHugh was tasked with switching on the Christmas lights.