A new Christmas experience will reveal how Santa delivers presents to children around the world on a single night each year.

That's according to the Chatham Dockyard, which claims dockyard workers have been keeping a 'heavily guarded secret' for more than 400 years, and that the Dockyard Trust (CHDT) has now been granted special permission to reveal the 'classified information'.

Mission Christmas will give families the chance to join a join a "magical, interactive journey into Santa’s substation, hidden deep in the Historic Dockyard" on selected dates between Saturday, November 26 until Saturday, December 24.

A spokesman at the Dockyard says the presence of Santa's secret substation is the reason why the Dockyard closes every Christmas, adding: "The family friendly experience, created within the historic Mast Houses and Mould Loft, takes children into a secret location used by Father Christmas, his reindeer and his elves as a navigation centre to plot the locations of any child not at home on Christmas Eve.

"Father Christmas will task children with a special mission to make sure each “good” child receives their Christmas gift on the most important night of the year.

"CHDT would like to warn those wishing to enter the secret substation that it’s heavily protected by magic. Only those with true Christmas spirit will be permitted through the gates."

In addition to the Mission Christmas experience, the Mess Deck Restaurant will be open, serving festive food and drinks, and the shop will be stocked with Christmas gifts and handmade products from the Master Ropemakers.

Olivia Horner, commercial director, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “We are very excited to be opening The Historic Dockyard Chatham this Christmas.

"We have developed a brand new, unique experience for families to come together and enjoy during the festive period. The Dockyard has been a secret substation for Father Christmas for over four centuries and, after much consultation with the man himself, he has granted us special permission to share this big secret for the first time this year.”

For further information and to book tickets click here. thedockyard.co.uk

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, including its ships, galleries and exhibitions, will not be open to the public during December.

Visitors will only be able to experience the “Mission Christmas” event.

Mission Christmas is a separately ticketed event and not included in an annual ticket.