Nearly 5,000 tickets have been snapped up for the return of Himley Hall’s Magical Christmas Portal this week – but there are still a few left for those who have not yet booked.

Tickets start from just £5 for the popular event, which opened this week and runs daily until Sunday 18th December. They can be booked at himleyhallandpark.co.uk.

With a little sprinkling of festive magic, the magic portal will see Father Christmas appear on a giant screen in the beautiful courtyard of the historic stately home. With the help of his companion Edward, children will be able to interact and speak with Father Christmas as he takes a short break from his busy schedule in the North Pole.

They can find out how the toys are made in the North Pole and tell Father Christmas what they’d really like on the big day.

Every youngster with a child ticket will receive a bespoke gift, while there will also be a Christmas market, food and refreshment stalls, festive street entertainment and a traditional funfair. Councillor Shaun Keasey, cabinet member for commercialisation, said:

"The feedback we got from the inaugural event last year was fantastic, so it was great to see Himley’s Magical Christmas Portal re-open yesterday and to watch people having such a great time.

"This time of year is all about making memories with loved ones and it really is a great evening out for the whole family, offering a spectacular and enchanting Christmas experience.

"Tickets are going quickly, with nearly 5,000 already snapped up, so we would urge people to get booked up now to avoid disappointment"