AR Design Studio has designed a chimney to accommodate Santa Claus.

Andy Ramus, director at the Winchester-based practice, was approached to draw up plans for a Santa-friendly chimney after worried youngster Leo Park wrote to the developer claiming the chimney on his new home would be too small for Santa to come down.

Jeremy Paxton, founder and owner of Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds, said: “It’s part of what Lower Mill does to construct a custom house according to whatever specifications the home owner wishes. Whether these involve the incorporation of a particular style of back door or providing methods of ingress for imaginary beings is no skin off our nose.”

The architect came up with a mathematical formula to calculate the size of the chimney, which will be tested next week by lowering a man dressed as Santa into the prototype.

Ramus said: “We specialise in small buildings and this has to be the smallest and most unique we have ever taken on. We hope that Leo and Santa are happy with our work.”