THE annual 'Black Santa' charity appeal is on course to raise £230,000 - the largest amount ever collected in a single year.
The Dean of St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast city centre, John Mann, said this year's sit-out far exceeded his expectations.
The Black Santa tradition at St Anne's has been going since 1976 when it was started by then Dean Sammy Crooks.
Since then, successive deans have raised millions for charitable causes.
This is the sixth year that Dean John Mann has taken part in the sit-out.
He said the total collected through a postal appeal and the sit-out itself passed £200,000 mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve.
However, this did not include any online cash and the amount that can be claimed through people gift-aiding their donations. Last year that came to at least £15,000 and is expected to be higher this time.
"The Black Santa Sit-out 2016 has far exceeded our expectations and I would like to thank the many people that have been so generous once again," Dean Mann said.
"Each year we hope to receive £200,000, but in my previous five years as Black Santa we have fallen just short. The collection is remarkably consistent considering the number of people that donate and that not everyone gives the same each year. So there are always surprises.
"Over the past five Christmases, the collection has realised by the end of January cut-off point between £184,000 and £196,000. That is after church Christmas collections etc are added.
"To have reached £200,000 by Christmas Eve is a considerable achievement and I am very happy for the charities that will ultimately benefit. Maybe we will have £230,000 or more before we distribute on the first Sunday in February 2017."
