It is surely the single most important and agonising debate of our time, sure to divide friends and families during the coming weeks.

Does Father Christmas really exist?

The man himself went on trial in the 1947 Christmas film classic Miracle On 34th Street and the 1994 remake starring Sir Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.

The Santa of the story faces ridicule and sectioning when he claims to be the real deal after standing in for a drunken impostor at the Macy's department store in New York.

He is ultimately vindicated when a court is shown the sacks of letters sent to Father Christmas by trusting children. The judge accepts their ardent faith in Santa as enough proof he really does exist.

This argument and more are expected to be aired when the Brighton and Hove Debating Society abandons its usual seriousness next week.

This month's motion states: "Father Christmas does exist."

Speaking up for Santa will be John Saunders, while saying "Bah, humbug!" will be Godfrey Gould.

In recent months, the society has concerned itself with topics such as ID cards, national services and overseas aid.

John, of Hartington Road, Brighton, said: "In this present gloomy world, we need sometimes to consider things which are a bit more fun and what could be more positive than Father Christmas?

"Surely everyone believes in Father Christmas? Only a few days ago it was reported the Inland Revenue sent a letter to 'S Claus'.

"They were querying why it was he appeared in his tax return to have worked for only one day in the year, yet was making a claim for travelling expenses of over three million miles.

"If as august a body as the IR writes in this fashion, surely we need no further proof.

"Father Christmas is everywhere and there would be many tearful children if they were told he didn't exist.

"I feel Godfrey, a rather Scrooge-like old curmudgeon, will have a hard job countering the argument."

Godfrey, of Rothbury Road, Hove, denied being a descendant of Ebeneezer Scrooge, insisting he was merely opposed to the commercialism of Christmas.

He said: "We should get rid of Father Christmas and get back to Christmas itself.

"At the moment it is a commercial con trick on children and parents.

"Many people will be spending incredible amounts this Christmas, much more than they can really afford.

"Father Christmas has nothing to do with what Christmas originally meant, going back 2,000 years.

"And children know very well Father Christmas doesn't really exist. They manipulate the concept to get their parents to spend more than they should.

"The idea of giving gifts is fine. But it's all got out of hand.

"Father Christmas is not just a benign old man. Behind that flowing white beard lies grasping commercialism."

Mother-of-two Lynne Ford is just starting to appreciate the difficulty of how to handle Santa's existence - or otherwise.

Her four-year-old daughter Krista is still a firm believer but six-year-old Joshua has begun expressing doubts.

Lynne, of Connell Drive, Brighton, said: "Joshua has started coming home from school asking why some children would say they didn't believe in Father Christmas. I didn't want to spoil it for my four-year-old so I told him people believe in lots of different things. If they didn't want to believe in Father Christmas, that's fine, but we do.

"But it is a tricky situation to handle. If you tell a child Father Christmas has brought all the presents, how can you encourage them to thank people?

"We've started explaining that we buy the presents because Father Christmas is so busy during the year but he collects them, wraps them up then delivers them.

"Both children have been a bit confused by how many different Santas they see in the shops at this time of year. I tell them they are his helpers."

The Father Christmas debate will take place at the St John's Day Centre in Palmeira Square, Hove, next Tuesday from 7.30pm.

The society usually meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Call 01273 685807.