Santa swaps his sleigh for a penny farthing in Brighton

Mark Newman regularly rides along Brighton and Hove seafront on his unusual cycle and at this time of year he does it in a Father Christmas outfit.

He said: "Everyone loves it. All the kids shout across the street, cars beep."

Mark says he loves the attention that he gets on the penny farthing (Image: NQ Staff)

Mark, who lives in Hove, started his Santa cycle three years ago and was not sure how people would take it at first.

He said: "I just thought it would be a bit of fun. The more I went out and the more I got reactions, 99 per cent of people are loving the interaction and I love it.

"Why would you not get on a penny farthing dressed up as Santa?

"My favourite one is when you hear a child going 'look Dad, there's Santa!'. That's really the one that sticks.

"We get kids sitting on the bikes, they have a great picture to show all their school friends.

Mark's tours allow visitors to see the city from a different perspective. He says: 'You're able to startle a few people on the top floor of a bus' when riding the bike (Image: Andy Gardner)

The avid penny farthing enthusiast takes part in numerous penny farthing-based activities nationwide. He believes he's in the "top two" penny farthing riders nationally, after representing the country at penny farthing polo tournaments.

Mark, who runs a cleaning business, said: "I don't own a normal bike. I go to meetings on the bike, I get my hair cut - I've even ridden across the UK from east to west."

• Read more: Skilled cyclists ride 100 miles in one day on penny farthings

He shares his love for the Victorian mode of transport with younger generations, visiting schools with fellow cyclists to talk about it.

Mark runs tours of Brighton and Hove using his five other penny farthings in the summer.

"People come on our tours and they just leave with a great big smile on their face," he said.

"I always say just be prepared to feel like an A-list celebrity as you ride along the seafront."