A woman is raising money for a children's hospice with her Santa-hat-wearing Fiat 500.

Tracie Skinner will be taking her special "festive Fiat" back on the road to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Ms Skinner, dressed in festive garb, will take the wheel of her "Santa car" in December.

The car, which Ms Skinner has owned since she was 16, is a well-known sight on the roads of Somerset and Bristol in the run-up to Christmas.

Ms Skinner said: "When people see it, it always raises a smile.

"It really brightens peoples’ day and motorists always beep, wave or flash their lights."

The 1970 bright red Fiat 500 was given to her when she was 16, before she had even passed her driving test.

She explained: "I restored the car and got it on the road.

"I love Christmas and always go overboard on decorating my house for the festive season.

"One day I looked at the Fiat and thought, I wonder if I could fit a Santa hat on the top."

Ms Skinner worked with her mum, Sue, to find the furry red and white fabric and set about designing a Santa hat for the car.

She continued: "It was quite a job as we had to design it and make sure we could make it fit on the roof securely and safely."

The hat was a hit, even attracting attention from the local police.

Ms Skinner has raised thousands of pounds for charity with her festive Fiat over the last several years.

This year, money collected via the Festive Fiat Just Giving Page will go to Children’s Hospice South West.

Ms Skinner will also be bringing the car to CHSW’s Santas on the Run event at Charlton Farm on December 8.

(Image: CHSW) She will be joined by her friend, Robin Bendall, and his "reindeer car," a 1979 MG Midget Frogeye Sprite Replica.

Mr Bendall said: "We put a red nose on the front of the car and because of the design, it looks like it’s smiling.

"And because it’s a convertible we were able to attach the antlers to a board and fix them to the car."

CHSW events fundraiser Hollie Thorogood said: "We’re so delighted to have the Festive Fiat and Reindeer Frog join us at our Santa event, and if we can’t have Santa and Rudolph join us, this is the next best thing."