SANTA arrived at a Forest school in true 21st century style – in a helicopter.

Pupils at St John's-on-the-Hill School in Tutshill were told Santa would be making a special entrance for the Christmas fair – but exactly how was a closely guarded secret.

Head girl Bethany Soloman said: "It was cool, a real surprise."

Santa was John Brigden, a former colleague of St John's headmaster Nick Folland, who said he enjoyed the flight from nearby St Arvans.

The helicopter, a two-seater Robinson 66, was loaned to Santa by the grandfather of a pupil at the school.