“Families can see where Santa is in the world and when he is heading our way”

It’s Christmas Eve and a huge percentage of the people in Somerset will be wanting to know when Father Christmas will be arriving in the county with his sackful of presents for all those who have been good.

Families will be able to track St. Nick’s every move with a fantastic Santa tracker that will help children everywhere see when he is arriving in their town or village, provided in a simulator by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

It has fast become a tradition among families over recent years for them to follow Father Christmas from his home at the North Pole, where the elves help put together the toys for Santa and Mrs Claus, ahead of the mammoth delivery mission on Christmas Eve.

You can track Santa’s progress by clicking HERE. Alternatively, you can check out NORAD’s YouTube channel where a live video of his journey is broadcast, by clicking HERE.

Santa’s movements on Christmas Eve have been tracked by the defence officials at NORAD for the past 67 years.

It all began when the Continental Air Defence Command received a call from a child who was trying to get through to Father Christmas. The operator who took the call promised the youngster that they would do their best to find out where Santa was in the world and now a huge team of volunteers work on Christmas Eve, taking calls from children who want to know where St. Nick is with his reindeer.

Defence officials at NORAD have been tacking Santa’ movements every Christmas Eve for the past 67 years, but the reason why they first started in 1955 is incredibly heartwarming.

It all began when one child trying to call Santa accidentally got through to what was then called the Continental Air Defence Command. The operator on shift at the time assured the youngster they would do their best to find out where St Nick was, and the military unit is now at its 68th year of doing so. A huge team of volunteers work every year to take calls from children across the world wanting to find out where in the sky he is.

It is a sophisticated method used to track Father Christmas with NORAD saying that satellites and fighter jets are used to pinpoint where he is and the exact moment he sets off from the North Pole.

They are reportedly helped by Rudolph’s red nose, which can be easily detected by satellites during Santa’s journey across the globe.