A soap star joined forces with Santa to raise money for sick children yesterday.

EastEnders actor Terry Alderton, The Dream Factory patron, spent the day at the Exchange shopping centre in Ilford helping young people write Christmas letters.

Every weekend until December 22, the charity will set up a Christmas Dreams Theatre Station in the atrium from 12 noon until 5pm.

For every letter posted to Santa, the shopping centre will donate 50p to The Dream Factory to help grant wishes of children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.

The Dream Factory founder Avril Mills said: “We are excited to be part of this unique campaign, and it’s a great way to inform people about our charity and demonstrate how a simple act of kindness with writing a letter can help create life-changing experiences for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.”

For more about the charity visit www.yourdreamfactory.org.