A West Cumbrian boy is able to put many young minds at rest, after receiving clarification from the Prime Minister that Father Christmas will be fit to travel and that Christmas will still be on this year.

Eight-year-old Monti, from Cockermouth, began to get concerned in June that Santa wouldn’t be able to make it, after hearing reports in the media that the coronavirus pandemic might go on until Christmas.

He wrote to the PM asking if the government had any thoughts about Santa coming this year, and whether to leave hand sanitiser or if Santa would be washing his hands.

His mum, Abby, said: “It was Monti’s idea to write to Boris Johnson. He was really thrilled to get a reply, none of us were expecting it. His dad and I had tried to explain that Boris is a busy man - we didn’t expect a reply.”

He wrote: “Dear Mr Johnson, I am 8 years old and I was wondering if you and the government had thoughts about Santa coming this year?

“If we leave hand sanitiser by the cookies, can he come? Or will he wash his hands?

“I understand you are very busy but can you and the scientists please talk about this? From Monti”

Boris Johnson replied on November 24 thanking Monti for his letter and raising the important question of whether Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year in spite of coronavirus.

He assured Monti that he has put a call in to the North Pole and Father Christmas is “ready and raring to go”, adding the Chief Medical Officer has given assurances that if Father Christmas works quickly and safely there are no risks to health.

Dear Monti, “Many thanks for your letter, which raises the very important question of whether Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year in spite of coronavirus.

“I know millions of other children are asking the same thing. Just to make sure, I have put in a call to the North Pole and I can tell you Father Christmas is ready and raring to go, as are Rudolph and all of the other reindeer.

“The Chief Medical Officer has asked me to tell you that, provided Father Christmas behaves in his usual responsible way and works quickly and safely, there are no risks to your health or his.

“Leaving hand sanitiser by the cookies is an excellent idea to help prevent the spread of the virus - and using it yourself, and washing your hands regularly, is exactly the kind of thing that will get you and your friends on the nice list.

“Thank you again for your letter and have a very merry Christmas. Signed, best wishes, Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister shared Monti’s letter and the reply on his social media platforms on November 25, saying: “Monti (aged 8) wrote to me asking if Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year.

“I’ve had lots of letters about this, so I have spoken with experts and can assure you that Father Christmas will be packing his sleigh and delivering presents this Christmas!”

Monti and his family have been left amazed at the response, with the posts being shared and liked hundreds of thousands of times.

On Facebook Boris’s post has been viewed 127,000 times, generated 18,000 comments and been shared 73,000 times.

On twitter it was trending sixth.

Abby said: “We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the response and the amount of shares and likes that it has had on social media. The BBC have been in touch as well.”

Monti’s headteacher at Fairfield Primary School Chris Steele said: “We are immensely proud of Monti and what he has achieved from his letter that he sent in June.

“I think it’s put lots of minds at rest.”

Abby thinks that Monti is just relieved that Christmas is still on.

She said: “I think he is too little to grasp the enormity of the Prime Minister writing to him, he was just relieved that Christmas is still on.

“We are very very proud of him and Santa is definitely coming.”