People can see the actual face of Santa Claus for the first in almost 1,700 years, thanks to the work of scientists.

Saint Nicholas of Myra was an early Christiansaint whose reputation for gift-giving inspired the Dutch folk figure of Sinterklaas, later to become Santa Claus. This mythical figure would then merge with the English Father Christmas - often associated with feasting and games, rather than gifts - to create the character children adore today.