A virtual visit to Father Christmas’s grotto

Pity poor children today. Ferried to school in cars and denied the chance to play outside in case of being abducted, it seems even seasonal pleasures are now to be forbidden, too.

Videoconferencing service EyeNetwork has teamed up with Internet diary specialist diarymanager.com to bring an on-line Santa’s grotto to children’s PCs.

An ISDN-based facility will allow children to visit Santa’s Lapland HQ, without the risks associated with sitting on the lap of a boozy, resting actor in a padded red suit at a department store.

The presents may be slightly boring, though. A visit to the grotto will only result in special Lapland rock being despatched to the cosseted kiddies.