Santa: How does Mr Claus deliver Christmas presents to houses without chimneys?

Santa delivering presents down the chimney on Christmas Eve is a timeless tale.

But the removal of fireplaces from new homes means many modern-day children have been left bemused as to how Father Christmas gets the job done.

One in three parents admitted that a common question they are asked about Santa is: “How he will deliver toys without a traditional chimney?”

It was just one of a barrage of questions about his epic festive journey across all seven continents, according to a survey of 1,000 parents from smart-home tech company Hive.

The most common query from excited youngsters was “How will he know where we live?” – with 39 per cent of children worried about how Santa will find them.

Meanwhile, 38 per cent ask: “How does he know if we’ve been good or bad?” and 17 per cent inquire: “Will the dog scare Santa away?”

Other popular questions include: “Does he have too many presents to deliver?”, “Can he deliver presents in bad weather?” and “Will a lack of chimneys or installation of gas fires prevent him from getting in?”.

Improvements in technology have also added to the confusion, with one in five children querying how his sleigh lands safely on solar-panelled roofs.

Some believe the chimney legend originated in an 1812 book written by US author Washington Irving. Others know it is just how Santa works his magic to deliver gifts and Christmas cheer.

“As homes evolve, so do kids’ questions,” Susan Wells, director of solar & EV at Hive, said.