NEWRY'S answer to 'Black Santa' has raised more than £85,000 through his latest annual Christmas sit-out for the Southern Area Hospice.
John Dalzell (78) presented the hospice with a cheque of £85,327.38 after completing his 28th annual festive fundraiser.
It involved him stationing himself in his trailer on Hill Street for 10 days on the run-up to Christmas, as well as having helpers at other locations.
A concert in Newry Town Hall was also held during the week of the sit-out to raise funds.
Ms Dalzell's efforts have raised almost £1.7 million in almost three decades.
In Belfast last month, the annual Black Santa charity sit-out on the steps of St Anne's Cathedral reached its 43rd year. In 2018, it raised more than £168,000 for local charities.
The festive tradition was first started in 1976 by Dean Sammy Crooks, who was dubbed 'Black Santa' by the press due to his traditional black, Anglican cloak.
